Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday launched the Majhe Driver motorcycle taxi app in Goa, in collaboration with the Goa Motorcycle Taxi Riders Association, a move that will help them supplement their income through the business they receive through the locally developed app.
“The purpose of the app is to help passengers connect with the taxi driver and book a ride before he reaches the destination. Moreover, there will be no commission charged by the app,” the CM said.
Goa is one of the few states in the country that has legal motorcycle taxis. The state legalized these services by amending the Motor Vehicles Law in 1981 which gave legitimacy to various informal services that had been in existence since the Portuguese era. Operators are known as pilots, borrowed from the Portuguese word piloto, meaning “driver”.
Joining the app or not is entirely up to the pilots, the CM said, adding that motorcycle taxi pilots face a bleak future with declining profits and dwindling rural routes.
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The app is developed by Graceful Goa Superapp Pvt. Ltd. and the Transport Directorate, to enhance last-mile connectivity services while enabling motorcyclists to leverage technology to improve service delivery and employment opportunities.
According to the developers, the app will enable passengers to book motorcycle taxis easily from anywhere in Goa.
“Designed to modernize and enhance motorcycle taxi operations, the platform has been developed to improve accessibility, expand customer reach and provide riders with greater opportunities to secure rides outside traditional taxi stands. This initiative aims to enhance access for motorcycle taxi riders, improve access to customers and support their business activities through the digital booking platform. The collaboration also envisions future support for the transition from traditional motorcycles to electric two-wheelers, promoting more sustainable mobility solutions,” the Graceful Goa Superapp Pvt Director said. Ltd. Rebecca Lobo.
There are about 2,500 to 3,000 active motorcycle pilots in Goa, up from about 8,000 to 10,000 at the turn of the century.
Sawant also announced a 50% subsidy for existing motorcycle pilots to purchase e-bikes and switch to electric.
