Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 26: The Goa government has increased fares for tourist taxis and black-yellow taxis for the first time in five years, with the State Transport Authority (STA) notifying a revised tariff structure replacing the rates fixed on August 5, 2021.

The new tariff introduces higher base fares, distance-based slabs and separate rates for standard taxis and vehicles attached to hotels, replacing the flat-rate and time-and-distance systems prescribed under the 2021 notification.

Under the earlier notification, black-yellow taxis charged a flat base fare of Rs 24 for the first kilometre and Rs 21 for every subsequent kilometre across vehicle categories. The revised notification replaces this system with distance-based slabs.

For hotel-attached tourist taxis, the earlier time-and-distance package system has also been replaced with direct distance-slab fares, along with increased per-kilometre rates across vehicle categories.

The new notification also lays down several operating conditions for black-yellow taxis. Waiting or detention charges have been fixed at Rs 50 per hour, or Rs 4 for every 10 minutes.

A 35 per cent surcharge will apply to journeys undertaken between 11 pm and 5 am. One-way journeys outside municipal limits will attract an additional 50 per cent over the applicable normal fare.

The notified black-yellow taxi fares are exclusive of service tax.

A separate tariff schedule has been prescribed for self-employed tourist taxi, motor cab and maxi cab operators attached to beach sites and star hotels. Such operators will have to pay a night operational fee of Rs 100 per hour for journeys between 11 pm and 5 am, in addition to the 35 per cent night tariff surcharge.

Passengers will have to pay toll charges, ferry charges, parking fees and applicable taxes separately.

In the case of shared rides, the base fare will be divided by the seating capacity of the vehicle to determine the fare payable by each passenger.

The STA has directed all permit holders to prominently display the official fare chart inside their vehicles.

Operators using vehicle models or seating capacities not covered under the gazette notification will have to approach the STA for fares to be officially fixed.

For standard yellow and black taxis operating on municipal and local routes, fares have been classified according to engine capacity and vehicle type.

**Standard yellow/black taxis**

**Category 1 — 998cc to 1199cc:** This category includes hatchbacks such as Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Santro, Celerio, Ford Figo, Eeco and Ritz.

* 0–3 km: Rs 300
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 430
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 26

**Category 2 — 1200cc to 1499cc, hatchbacks and sedans:** Vehicles include Swift, Baleno, i20, Liva, Datsun ReadyGo, VW Polo, Swift DZire, Honda Amaze, Etios, Brezza, Jazz and BR-V.

* 0–3 km: Rs 300
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 430
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 26

**Category 3 — 1500cc to 2499cc, regular SUVs:** This category covers Creta, EcoSport, Thar, Innova (old), Marazzo, Tata Aria, Jeep Compass, Duster, Ertiga and Bolero.

* 0–3 km: Rs 400
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 560
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 32

**Category 4 — 1500cc to 2499cc, premium SUVs/MPVs:** Vehicles include Innova Crysta, Tucson and Tiguan.

* 0–3 km: Rs 500
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 660
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 32

**Tourist taxis, motor cabs and maxi cabs attached to beach sites and star hotels**

For self-employed operators attached to beach sites and star hotels, a separate tariff structure has been notified.

**Hatchbacks — 998cc to 1199cc:** Vehicles include Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Santro, Celerio, Ford Figo and Eeco, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 300
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 445
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 29

**Hatchbacks — 1200cc to 1499cc:** Vehicles include Swift, Baleno, i20, Liva, Datsun ReadyGo, VW Polo and Jazz, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 300
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 480
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 36

**Saloon/Sedans — 1200cc to 1499cc:** Vehicles include Swift DZire, Honda Amaze, Etios, Brezza and BR-V, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 300
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 515
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 43

**Regular SUVs — 1500cc to 2499cc:** This category includes Creta, EcoSport, Thar, Innova (old), Marazzo, Tata Aria, Jeep Compass, Duster, Ertiga and Bolero, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 400
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 645
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 49

**Passenger/Premium SUVs and MPVs — 1500cc to 2499cc:** Vehicles include Innova Crysta, Tucson and Tiguan, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 500
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 743
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 49

**Premium cabs — 2500cc and above:** This category includes Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Jaguar and Land Rover, among others.

* 0–3 km: Rs 1,000
* 3.1–8 km: Rs 1,745
* Every subsequent kilometre: Rs 149

The revised tariff marks the first major revision of Goa’s taxi fares since the rates notified in August 2021.