No Ride for Ola, Uber in Goa – CM Pramod Sawant Draws the Line

According to reports, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has promised that the state will not allow cab aggregators like Ola and Uber.

Despite the state government's notification of the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, asking for comments and objections, this decision was made.

A regulatory framework, including licence fees, tariffs, and incentives, is included in the draft rules for app-based taxi and bike taxi businesses.

According to a media report, Sawant gave his pledge in response to pressure from MLAs in the coastal belt. The state administration has been requested to implement a system for taxi operators and to put the rules on hold. The government was instructed by the MLAs to adopt a standardised framework for equitable taxi fares.

According to reports, Sawant stated that since it is merely a guideline for aggregators, there should be no misunderstandings among the public. Uber and Ola won't come here.

To establish a system, the government will seek the help of all parties involved, including lodging facilities, taxis, and MLAs. This problem will be resolved by the current administration.

According to the guidelines, the only aggregators permitted to operate throughout the state would be those who obtained a licence from the Goa government.

What Guidelines Further State?

Guidelines further state that an aggregator who has a registered office in Goa is eligible to apply for a licence, which is valid for three years from the date of issuance and must be renewed every three years after that.

The rules also stated that a legally binding agreement with the drivers must be made, one that is in conformity with the state's dispute resolution procedures.

Earlier this year, regulatory pressure was applied to ride-hailing behemoths like Ola and Uber because of their varying prices for Android and iPhone users.

Pralhad Joshi, the minister of consumer affairs, claimed earlier this year that the two taxi aggregators had received complaints from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for showing different prices for the same ride on iOS and Android devices. The platforms have refuted the accusations.

Notably, in February, the Urimaikural Ottunar Thozhirsangam (Urimaikural drivers trade union), the auto and taxi drivers' union in Chennai, declared an indefinite boycott of Ola and Uber due to the exorbitant commissions charged on daily rides. In response, the platforms recently adopted zero-commission arrangements.

Government Pushing for Sahkar Taxi

However, in March of this year, the Centre announced the establishment of a new state-backed ride-hailing service dubbed "Sahkar Taxi", which would compete with the current market leaders in the ride-hailing field.

Drivers would have complete control over their earnings using this platform, free from commission reductions by other companies. It is important to remember that the Karnataka High Court gave bike taxi companies like Ola, Uber, and Rapido six weeks to stop operating in its April ruling.

Subsequently, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy requested that department personnel implement the High Court's directive to halt the state's bike taxi activities.

The Karnataka High Court's division bench earlier this week refused to postpone the judgement until the state government released a comprehensive framework to regulate the services.