No Entry For Ola, Uber In Goa: Pramod Sawant

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant has reportedly assured that cab aggregators like Ola and Uber will not be permitted in the state. 

This decision comes despite the state government’s notification of the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, seeking suggestions and objections. 

The draft guidelines outline a regulatory framework for app-based taxi and bike taxi operators, including licensing fee, tariffs and incentives.

A TOI report said that Sawant’s assurance came following the pressure from coastal belt MLAs.

The state government has been urged to keep the guidelines in abeyance and put a system in place for taxi operators. The MLAs told the government to set up an established system for equal taxi charges.

“There should be no confusion among the people as it is just a guideline for aggregators. Ola and Uber will not come here. We will take all stakeholders, including hotels, taxis and MLAs, into confidence to put a system in place. We will resolve this issue. ALl should remain calm,”  Sawant was quoted as saying in the report.

Based on the guidelines, aggregators obtaining a licence from the Goa government would alone be able to operate throughout the state.

Any aggregator with a registered office in Goa would be eligible to obtain a licence, which stands valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance and shall be subsequently renewed after every three years.

Further, the guidelines mentioned that there should be a valid enforceable contract established with the drivers, that is aligned with the jurisdiction for dispute resolution in the state.

Pricing Issues With Ola, Uber

The ride hailing giants such as Ola and Uber have been under the regulatory pressure for the differential pricing for Android and iPhone users earlier this year.

Earlier this year, minister of consumer affairs Pralhad Joshi said that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to the two cab aggregators for displaying different fares for identical rides on Android and iOS devices, to which the platforms have denied the allegations.

To note, auto and cab drivers union of Chennai, Urimaikural Ottunar Thozhirsangam (Urimaikural drivers trade union) announced an indefinite boycott of Ola and Uber over high commissions charged on daily rides, in February.

To which, the platforms responded with adoption of zero-commission models recently. 

On the other hand, competing with the existing market leaders in the ride-hailing space, the Centre announced the launch of a new state-backed ride-hailling service called ‘Sahkar Taxi’, in March this year. This platform would provide drivers’ full control over their earnings, free from commission cuts by third-party platforms. 

It is pertinent to note that the Karnataka High Court, in its April ruling, gave six-week time to bike taxi service providers like Ola, Uber and Rapido to halt their services. Following which, Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy asked department officials to enforce the HC order to suspend bike taxi operations in the state.

In a most recent development, a division bench of the Karnataka HC declined to stay the order until the state government releases a comprehensive policy to regulate the services, earlier this week.