Upon my permanent return to India (Goa), quite a few fellow-Goans offered some well-meant advice - Get yourself a two or four wheeler, I was told, as the cost of getting around via private transport was exorbitant, and affordable public transport lacked availability, especially in last-mile connectivity.
In all that time, I have never known of anything being done for those for whom private transport was an absolute necessity, viz. super elders, elders, individuals with limited mobility, and others deemed to be beneath this umbrella. With that in mind, let's take a look at the various relevant causes, effects, and potential modes of resolving transport-related challenges.
1. An overload of two and four wheelers, most of which would not have been on the road if there was a robust, well planned, well executed public transportation infrastructure in place with last-mile connectivity. With innumerable vehicles on the road, poor quality of roads, poorly planned road infrastructure, parking-related challenges, we see accidents - resulting in unnecessary loss of several precious lives. The government, instead of doling out oodles of tax-payer cash under various programmes, could explore the possibility of implementing a well-managed, effective, vehicle trade-in programme.
2. Super elders, elders, those with limited mobility that may or may not be apparent, and those who don't drive but for whom private transport is a necessity, would have never been behind the wheel if private transport was made affordable for them. So let's show some respect for our elderly, and make it affordable for them to get around without being compelled to drive. For those interested in servicing this category of potential passenger riders (who usually move around alone or in twos or maximum threes), the trade-in could be for a government-decided easily identifiable colour viz. gold or purple or orange or red (recommended colours for the elderly) for a hybrid e-rickshaw, along with defensive driving classes as well as sensitivity training for handling such category of individuals.
A tough driving test could earn the intended student driver a badge that could be displayed on the hybrid e-rickshaw, along with a brief caption denoting professionalism and pride in serving our elderly. Fares should be maintained at affordable levels, and clearly known upfront, including for various packages by number of hours and miles with multiple stops permitted (along the lines of Goa Miles, minus the 15% that I was told Goa Miles retains).
3. Airlines moving their operations to Mopa obviously resulted in loss of income for tourist taxis in south Goa. Our government could have buses at regular intervals to and from Mopa-Dabolim corresponding with aircraft arrival and departure timings, for those living or intending to stay in hotels in south Goa. From Dabolim, local tourist taxis could be used to assure business to vehicles from south Goa, to get passengers to their intended destination in south Goa and vice versa.
4. Unavailability of affordable transport renders it challenging for individuals to attend events of their interest viz. tiatr, weekly market, concerts, exhibitions, etc. One way to get such individuals out and increase business for transporters, would be for the event holder to offer the option of a package ticket that would include round-trip transport and the price of attending the event.
5. I spoke with quite a few tourist taxi individuals in various villages and towns. From what I learned, every second person in Goa seems to be getting a car to operate it as a tourist taxi, and bowing to peer pressure to charge those outrageous fares. By way of an example: I had gone to my ancestral village Assolna to attend an evening funeral. As I did not want to return home to Baga at night, I booked a night's stay at a starred hotel in Mobor. After the funeral, as there was no tourist taxi to be seen, I tried Goa Miles to return to Mobor. Unfortunately, the only available vehicle told me he was heading north, so he could not come. I rang my hotel, who asked if I wanted one of its vehicles or one from outside. I asked which was less expensive. The hotel connected me to the tourist taxi leader outside. Knowing fully well I was a Konkani-speaking Goan from Assolna and had gone there for a funeral, he said he was willing to drop their normal charge of Rs 1,700 to a lower 4-figure amount. Wow! For barely a 13-minute drive, approx 7 kms.? I was incredulous, despite being fully cognizant that my transport spend averages 60-70% of our monthly budget. I prayed for divine help, walked to the market, and found a lone rickshaw, who dropped me off for Rs 200. Yes, we do emphathise, we do understand, but if it's reasonable for Goa Miles drivers despite the 15% deduction, we fail to understand why the rest want it so easy and are being supported by some of our MLAs who apparently fear losing votes.
I urge our government to exhibit prudent fiscal management and explore any of the above ideas that seem feasible and practical from its standpoint. Goans can only pray and hope for better days with less loss of lives from road accidents, reasonable private transport prices for those for whom private transport is an absolute necessity, consideration and respect for our elderly and those with limited mobility by making it affordable for them to get around.