Insisting that he will not bow down to pressure, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has told The Goan in an interview that he is determined to compel rent-a-cab operators to install speed governors in their vehicles without any subsidies
THE GOAN: By law, speed governors are mandatory for all commercial vehicles. Why has it not been implemented for rent-a-cabs?
MAUVIN GODINHO: We have not missed out on anything legally. We have implemented the High Court order and instructed the taxis to install meters, but how many are using the taxi meters? We will not stay like this only and we are now contemplating action in a different way which will happen soon.
Rent-a-cabs are also supposed to install speed governors but some who have installed are not using it while some have not installed at all. I have now asked for an audit to see how many rent-a-cabs or taxis are falling under which Assistant Directorate of Transport (ADT) offices and how many of the vehicles have meters and speed governors and we will take action accordingly.
I have refused to come under pressure, but I will take such steps that they will be compelled to install speed governors because most people want to use a rent-a-cab since they feel a taxi is expensive. Simultaneously, we have to go on an app in a big way and I feel an app is a must to go digital in a big way. It may take a little time and very soon we will take steps that they will be compelled to go on the app as well.
TG: You have directed an action taken report on implementation of speed governors by March 11. Has action begun in this direction?
MG: The report is just coming in to me and they have to send it with their remarks and observations. It moves at different levels and then we will take a very considered and a balanced view.
TG: The government has floated tenders for speed governors. Will there be any subsidies for rent-a-cab operators?
MG: There is no question of subsidies for rent-a-cab operators. They are private cars which are given on rent as and when in the free market. Now, the other taxi operators have been there for so many years and have gone through the Covid pandemic, etc and we have given them all the benefits at that time.
However, in future, we will incentivise protocol for moving on the App wherein it will be made costlier for them to operate if they are not on the App. The rates may remain the same, they will pay more charges to the government, they will have to pay more in the form of taxes if they are not on the App and if they are on the App, we will give them concession.
TG: Will the government ban permits for new rent-a-cabs?
MG: For your information, there is a complete ban on new rent-a-cabs since the last two years and we have not given even a single permit. There is a complete ban even on rent-a-bikes and we are not giving anybody permissions.
We are now studying areas which are not covered by the rent-a-bike and rent-a-cab operators and only there we may relax a bit, but that is also not sure. There has to be an audit first of taxis or motorbike taxis and only then will we take a balanced view.
TG: Will the government introduce any new stringent SOPs for rent-a-cabs?
MG: I have said it earlier and I am saying it again that if there is more than one serious offence where someone dies or is critically injured, we will not only impound the vehicle and take action against the owners, we will also cancel the permit permanently.
