PANAJI
The demand for a blue cab counter at Mopa voiced by Pernem locals finally found concrete support from the State government with the latter issuing a draft notification to amend the Goa Motor Vehicles Act and pave the way to set up the counter at the new international airport.
The notification seeks objections or suggestions to its draft rules which are to be forwarded to the Director of Transport in 15 days.
“Consent from GMR Goa International Airport Ltd, for providing parking slots/ pickup bays at Manohar International Airport at Mopa shall be sufficient for issuance of permits by the Regional Transport Authority,” the draft notification states.
It also stipulates that to drive public service vehicles the completion certificate of orientation course conducted by an institution recognised by the Government suffices.
“The cost of orientation programme shall be borne by the applicant,” one amendment to a sub-rule states.
It also specifies that a Public Service Vehicle badge holder shall undergo refresher training at the time of renewal of driving licence.
Locals and taxi operators from Pernem had been agitating since the airport went operational in December last seeking that the government set up the promised exclusive blue cab taxi counter for them. Some of these taxi operators had lost their land holdings to the new airport.
