Visiting tourists often rely on rented vehicles for exploring Goa. The Mahindra Thar is a popular option in the rent-a-car segment there. The government of Goa is now moving towards effectively banning the Thar from the rental space. It is planning to stop issuing new rental licenses to Thars. The decision comes in response to a rising count of road accidents involving rental Thars, in Goa. The move will surely reduce the Mahindra SUV’s footprint in Goa’s rental fleet, significantly.
Goa’s Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has made it clear that the state is concerned about the increasing number of road accidents involving Mahindra Thars. According to him, discussions have already taken place to identify the causes and introduce corrective measures.
The government now plans to place a proposal before the State Transport Authority (STA) to restrict new licences for rental Thars. The final decision will be taken in the upcoming STA meeting. Godinho even stated that the government would have imposed a complete ban on Thar’s sales if existing laws allowed it.
“The Thar vehicle is involved in lot of accidents and we have received requests from the public to do something about it.” he said.
This move from the state government has been triggered by a bunch of serious accidents in recent past, allegedly caused by Mahindra Thars. In May, a 32-year-old man lost his life and a minor was severely injured in an accident. In that case, a rented Thar allegedly rammed into their scooter in North Goa. Investigations further revealed that the SUV was driven by a tourist who was drunk! Driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a fatal crash- that’s a serious crime!
Another case happened in February when a 65-year-old tourist from Madhya Pradesh died after a Thar rammed into his car. This too happened in North Goa and the Thar involved was a rental car.
More recently, in June, another Thar lost control in Verna and hit a Hyundai Creta and a TVS Jupiter scooter. The scooter rider was injured in the incident. The list goes on.
The Thar’s persona and the Goan vibe go well together. Visiting tourists- both domestic and foreign- seem to know this well. The Mahindra SUV enjoys high demand in the rental market. Over the years, it has become a staple in the fleet of self-drive rental operators. On an average, a Thar commands a daily rent of Rs 3500-4000. If driven safely, it can be the perfect vehicle to explore Goan landscapes.
The move to restrict issuance of licenses is just one part of the story. The transport department is also preparing for a wider crackdown on rent-a-car operators. Detailed inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance to all licensing norms like having adequate parking facilities and proper documentation. Additionally, vehicles will be inspected to ensure that mandatory safety equipment such as Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) and speed governors are installed properly on them.
It has been reported that speed governors on rental vehicles are often tampered. Since June, more than 200 cases have been registered against operators for bypassing these devices using hidden switches and or by disconnecting these devices. Such violations face fines of up to Rs 10,000. And repeat offences could lead to the permits getting suspended.
The government is also tightening its stance on drunken driving. Alcohol is cheap in Goa and people often drunk-drive there. Under its new approach, the government will immediately arrest anyone driving under the influence of alcohol and causing fatal accidents. Even the vehicle providers will also face penalties if negligence is established. This approach holds both drivers and operators accountable for the mishap.
And finally, the state has also installed AI-powered traffic cameras at 26 locations to spot and penalise traffic violations and reckless driving. These will begin issuing e-challans from July 15, 2026.
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