Petition to Parrikar to allow Ola, Uber in Goa goes viral on social media

PANAJI: An online petition, addressed to chief minister Manohar Parrikar to allow cab aggregator companies like Ola and Uber went viral on Tuesday.

The petition on change.org, started by Mahesh Sardesai, a Goan presently residing in Canada, has requested Parrikar to allow Ola and Uber to operate in the state by listing out 12 reasons.

"Tourism is the backbone of Goa's economy and tourists across the world and India are used to services like OLA/UBER. It's time to allow them to operate in Goa. Goan taxi drivers never use the taxi meters required by law and charge exorbitant rates for their services," Sardesai's petition read, listing out benefits such as reduction in traffic congestion, pollution and a safer transport system.

The petition has received a positive response, with over 1900 signatures within the first ten hours of it going online.

Supporting the move, president of the disability rights association of Goa (DRAG) Avelinho De Sa said the introduction of Ola and Uber has been a long pending demand from many Goans.

"Our organization supports the petition as it will certainly benefit the people. It has been demanded since a long time," he said.

The petition has to be signed by at least 2500 people so that a letter can be sent to the chief minister.