MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured to find an amicable solution to the vexed digital taxi meter issue, which will be in the interest of the taxi owners, before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
“We are in talks with the Advocate General and the director of transport. We will find an adequate solution to the problem before the Chaturthi so that the taxi owners will not face any problem,” Sawant said.
“I know all the taxi owners are Goans. We will take them into confidence and find a way out,” he added.
The taxi operators have been opposing installation of digital fare meters and GPS meters. They have challenged the State government’s decision on the mandatory fixing of digital fare meters before the High Court.
Meanwhile, the Vagator-Caisua Taxi Owner Association met the chief minister during his one-day pre-poll outreach programme in Siolim and handed over a memorandum asking for relaxation in the fitment of digital taxi meters.
They also demanded scrapping of the app-based taxis in the State.
“We seek your intervention in the matter related to fitment of digital fare meter, renewal of permits, fitness and scrapping of the app-based taxis in the State,” the taxi owners said. in a signed memorandum.
They also demanded revocation of the cancellation notices sent to the taxi-owners.
“Due to the pandemic there have been a lot of problems in business and fitment of digital fare meters at this point of time is difficult. App-based taxi operation (Goa Miles) is also not a good idea in our tourism oriented state of Goa,” the memorandum read.
The taxi-owners also appealed to the government to take necessary steps so that they can resume their business before the Ganesh Chaturthi.
