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Goa May Restrict New Mahindra Thar Rental Licences Amid Road Safety Concerns
The state is also implementing AI traffic cameras to monitor violations. While the rental association supports safety measures, concerns about tourist driving behaviors persist.
Syed Wahab Ali
Updated Jul 8, 2026, 02:10 PM IST
Goa May Restrict New Mahindra Thar Rental Licences Amid Road Safety Concerns
Photo : TIMES DRIVE
Goa could soon make it harder for rental operators to add new Mahindra Thar SUVs to their fleets. The state government is considering a proposal to restrict fresh rental licences for the popular off-roader following a series of accidents reportedly involving the Mahindra Thar and the Thar Roxx.
Key Highlights:
- Goa may stop issuing new rental licences for Mahindra Thar SUVs to improve road safety.
- The proposal comes after a series of accidents involving the Mahindra Thar and Thar Roxx.
- AI traffic cameras detected over 56,500 traffic violations in a single day during a pilot project.
- State government also launched the upgraded Majhe App and announced a 50% subsidy on electric motorcycles for bike taxi pilots.
The proposal was announced by Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho as part of a broader plan to improve road safety across the state. However, no final decision has been taken yet, and the proposal will be placed before the State Transport Authority for approval.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting chaired by Mauvin Godinho with officials from the Goa Transport Department on Tuesday.
Sharing details on social media, the minister said the meeting reviewed several road safety initiatives, including a proposal to regulate high-risk rent-a-car Thar vehicles. The matter will now be placed before the State Transport Authority for consideration. If approved, the move would limit the approval of new rental licences for Mahindra Thar SUVs in Goa.
“We also reviewed proposals to regulate high-risk rent-a-car Thar vehicles, which will be placed before the State Transport Authority for consideration,” Godinho wrote on X.
"We are concerned about the rising number of accidents and a discussion was held on the reasons and how to curb them. As far as Thar vehicles are concerned, we are going to restrict issuing new licences to operators of rental Thar vehicles. It is going to come up in the next STA meeting, and they will decide what action has to be taken," Godinho was quoted as saying by the local media outlet, Goa News Hub.
Stricter Action Against Rental Operators
Apart from the proposed Thar restriction, the Goa government is also planning stricter action against rental vehicle operators.
The minister said immediate action will be taken against rental drivers involved in major accidents, along with the owners or operators of those vehicles. Authorities also plan to crack down on the commercial use of unauthorised private vehicles and introduce dedicated parking regulations for rental vehicles.
No Data Shared Behind Thar Proposal
The Mahindra Thar and Thar Roxx remain among the most popular rental SUVs in Goa because of their strong road presence, off-road capability and versatility. However, the government has not shared any official data explaining why these models have been identified as a higher safety risk than other vehicles.
This is not the first time Goa has considered major changes for rental vehicles. In 2023, the state proposed making all rental cars and bikes electric from 2024, but the plan was never implemented. Similarly, previous attempts to allow ride-hailing services such as Uber and Ola in Goa have also not moved forward.
AI Traffic Cameras Detect 56,500 Violations in One Day, Says Minister
The state is also expanding the use of technology to improve road safety.
According to the Transport Minister, a pilot project using AI-powered traffic cameras at 26 locations detected more than 56,500 traffic violations in a single day. Drivers received on-the-spot warnings during the trial.
The AI camera network will be expanded to 52 locations by September and 90 locations by December. Warnings will continue until July 15, after which traffic challans will be issued and enforcement will begin. Other measures under consideration include installing speed governors and vehicle tracking devices.
“The network will be expanded to 52 locations by September and further scaled up to 90 locations by December, reinforcing technology-driven traffic management and road safety across the State,” Godinho said in the post.
Rental Association Backs Proposal
According to local reports, Goa Rent-a-Car Association President Nitesh Chodankar has expressed support for the proposed safety measures, including the restriction on new Mahindra Thar rentals.
However, he also stated that tourists driving rental vehicles are more likely to violate traffic rules, including driving under the influence of alcohol, than local cab drivers.
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