Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, May 22: The Goa government has proposed stringent penalties and attractive incentives in its newly drafted guidelines to regulate app-based aggregator operations in the state.
The draft, issued by the Transport Department on Wednesday, recommends a penalty of Rs 50 lakh and blacklisting for operating without a valid licence or violating licence conditions. Violations related to fare regulation could attract a fine of Rs 5 lac per instance.
The guidelines also propose a fee of Rs 5 lac for issuing or renewing aggregator licences. A security deposit of Rs 10 lac refundable and non-interest-bearing will be required at the time of licence grant. Minor changes like address updates or duplicate licences will cost Rs 50,000.
Incentives have been proposed for vehicle owners and drivers operating through aggregator platforms. Owners completing at least 500 trips in a year could get 50% of their annual insurance premium reimbursed, capped at Rs 20,000. If the driver is a woman, the reimbursement goes up to 100%, capped at Rs 30,000.
To boost electric mobility and female participation, the draft includes a subsidy of Rs 1 lac for electric motor cabs and Rs 20,000 for e-bikes or e-autos for female owner-drivers with a PSV badge. The subsidy will be paid in two halves—at purchase and after 500 completed trips within a year.
In a significant step towards gender inclusion, a full waiver of the licence renewal fee is proposed for aggregators with at least 20% of their fleet driven by women at the time of renewal.
The draft mandates all aggregators to maintain a registered office in India and a branch office in Goa. They must begin operations within six months of receiving a licence and comply with various laws including the Motor Vehicles Act, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and others.
It also requires aggregators to ensure the identity of the driver matches the one displayed to passengers on the app.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit feedback on the draft within 30 days.