VALPOI
Taxi operators in Goa have alleged that Karnataka-based taxi operators are taking undue advantage of permit provisions in the State, resulting in unfair competition for local taxi operators.
They claimed that a Karnataka taxi entering Goa is required to pay only Rs 318 for a temporary permit valid for three months. According to the operators, this permit allows the taxi to carry passengers for business during the permit period.
In contrast, Goa taxi operators travelling to Belagavi or other parts of Karnataka with passengers are required to pay around Rs 9,000 for a three-month permit under Karnataka’s rules, they said. The operators claimed that the high permit fee is not financially viable for many local taxi drivers.
The issue has become particularly significant on the Goa-Belagavi route, where Karnataka taxi operators are reportedly offering passenger services at much lower fares. Goa-based operators said this is affecting their business as they are unable to match these fares because of the higher permit charges they face when operating in Karnataka.
To get first-hand information on the issue, Goa taxi drivers and operators visited the Transport Department’s RTO check post at Keri and held detailed discussions with the officials on duty.
During the meeting, the operators sought information about the rules for vehicles registered outside Goa, permit charges and their implementation. They also highlighted the difficulties faced by local taxi operators because of the difference in permit fees between the two states.
Goa taxi operators have demanded that the Karnataka government provide three-month temporary permits to Goa-based taxis at a fee of Rs 318, on the same lines as the provision applicable to Karnataka taxis entering Goa.
The operators have called for a reciprocal and uniform permit fee structure between Goa and Karnataka. They said that if taxis from one state are allowed to operate in the other by paying a nominal permit fee, while taxis from the other state have to pay a much higher amount, it creates an uneven playing field for local operators.
They have urged the transport authorities of both states to hold discussions and arrive at a mutually acceptable and balanced permit fee structure for interstate taxi operations.
The taxi operators also raised the issue of All India Permits during the discussion. According to them, an All India Permit requires an annual payment of around Rs 30,000.
The operators pointed out the significant difference between the annual cost of an All India Permit and the lower charges applicable to temporary permits in certain cases. They said the permit system and fee structure should be clearer, more transparent and more uniform for taxi operators involved in interstate passenger transport.
The taxi operators said they would soon meet the Director of Transport, Goa, and submit a detailed representation on the issue. Following their discussion at the Keri check post, they also plan to visit other check posts in Goa to discuss the matter with transport officials.
