the goan I network
PANAJI
The Bombay High Court of Goa directed the state government to expedite the implementation of the digital taxi metres for tourist taxis in Goa.
Disposing the petition filed by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) the High Court took on record the minutes of the meeting of the State Transport Authority which took a decision to implement digital meters for taxis in Goa.
The State Transport Authority had taken a decision to operate the scheme of digital meters with effect from August 1 on a pilot project basis for 15 days until August 15, and thereafter, subject to successful running as a pilot project, would be implemented within six months across the board in the State.
“The respondents are directed to proceed in accordance with the decisions taken in the meeting and which form part of the minutes. The petition is disposed of accordingly,” the High Court noted.
The TTAG had filed a petition seeking the implementation of Rule 140 of the Goa Motor Vehicle Rules, 1991 as amended in 2015 and provide for the manner of implementation of Automated Tracking Device with an integrated emergency system and Fare Meter in passenger taxis.
“Earlier in mid-June the Advocate General finally informed the court that the process of bidding and selection of the operators has been fully accomplished and two bidders have been identified for award of contract. It is submitted that the contract has even been executed with one of the two bidders. The other contract would be signed shortly,” he had said.
Subsequently the bidding process was ratified by the State Transport Authority.
The decision of the High Court brings to fruition a three year legal battle fought by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa which had sought the High Court’s intervention to get tourist taxis in Goa to install and abide by the meters.
Earlier the Bombay High Court at Goa had asked the State Government to issue an order mandating compulsory digital taxi metres by Wednesday as the issue has been “pending for some time and a policy decision is already taken.”
