Goa Plans Crackdown on Rental Mahindra Thar SUVs Amid Rising Road Safety Concerns
Brief By Newsbrief / 1:45 PM on 09 Jul 2026
The Goa government is considering a proposal to halt the issuance of new rental licences for Mahindra Thar and Mahindra Thar Roxx SUVs as part of its efforts to improve road safety. The proposal follows concerns over accidents involving rental vehicles and is expected to be reviewed by the State Transport Authority before any final decision is taken.
Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho recently held a meeting with transport officials to discuss several road safety measures. During the meeting, authorities proposed classifying rental Mahindra Thar vehicles as high-risk rental cars, leading to stricter regulations on their operation. However, officials have clarified that no ban has been implemented yet, and the proposal will only take effect if approved by the State Transport Authority.
In addition to the proposed restrictions, the government plans to introduce tougher penalties for rental vehicle drivers, owners, and operators involved in serious road accidents. Authorities also intend to crack down on the illegal commercial use of private vehicles and introduce dedicated parking regulations for rental cars.
The Mahindra Thar remains one of the most popular rental SUVs in tourist destinations due to its rugged styling, strong off-road capability, and powerful performance. Despite its popularity, the government has not yet disclosed the specific data used to classify the vehicle as high risk compared to other rental models.
The discussion is part of a broader road safety initiative in Goa. The state has already installed AI-powered traffic cameras at 26 locations, detecting more than 56,500 traffic violations in a single day during the trial phase. Officials plan to begin issuing fines after July 15 and expand the camera network to 52 locations by September and 90 by December.
The proposal has also sparked a wider debate over whether road accidents are caused by the vehicle itself or by unsafe driving behaviour.