PANAJI
The transport department has set a deadline of October 31 for taxi operators to fit the digital fare meters, failing which their taxi permits would be cancelled permanently.
Director of Transport Rajan Satardekar’s notice on Friday makes it clear that all taxi operators will have to abide by the deadline to affix the digital meters. Earlier, the transport department had staggered the fitment of digital meters for taxi operators in a digit-wise format.
Earlier, as many as 1,849 taxis had been cancelled by the transport department for failing to fit the digital fare meters within the stipulated time.
Around 650 taxi operators, whose permits have been cancelled, have approached the transport department expressing willingness to fit the digital meters. Taking their request into consideration, the department has decided to give a common deadline for all taxi operators.
The department has made it clear that taxi permits would be cancelled if taxi operators fail to fit digital meters by October 31.
Permits earlier cancelled will be restored if taxi operators approach the department with proof of fitment of the digital fare meters.
The guidelines are applicable to all passenger taxis with tourist permits, taxis with All Goa permit, yellow-black stand permit, etc.
Although the State government has offered a 100 percent subsidy on digital meters, the taxi operators have continued to oppose the digital meters.
"We have just received the circular and we need some time to react on it. Till then, our stand to oppose the digital meters will continue,” said Sudip Tamhankar, spokesperson of the taxi operator association.
