New SOP planned to tighten regulation of rent-a-cab sector

PANAJI
The State government has announced introducing a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the ‘Rent-a-Cab’ business as the Transport Department plans a special audit of all permits and a detailed inspection of vehicles under the scheme.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the move will address shortcomings and make the permit system more transparent and streamlined.
“The new SOP is in its final stages and it will provide a clearer regulatory framework for the business. We are seriously working on the shortcomings in the Rent-a-Cab sector, so as to regulate it properly. A special audit of all permits will be carried out and all vehicles will be thoroughly inspected,” he said.
On concerns over the carrying capacity of vehicles and the number of tourists that can be accommodated in different gram panchayats, the minister said a uniform approach may not be practical as local conditions vary.
“Every panchayat has different geographical and social conditions. We cannot impose the same rules everywhere,” he said, adding that the government had initiated the process of appointing a specialised expert agency to undertake a technical study and recommend appropriate norms.
Meanwhile, Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai launched a sharp attack on the government over the financial burden allegedly being imposed on taxi operators through digital meters, licence renewals, taxes and other charges.
Speaking to reporters at the Assembly complex after attending a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), Sardesai alleged that the taxi sector was being used as a source of revenue ahead of the elections.
“The taxi operators are forced to spend heavily on digital meters despite the availability of cheaper alternatives in the market. The operators are made to pay between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 per taxi towards Rent-a-Cab permits, government taxes and other charges,” he alleged.
The MLA further questioned the effectiveness of the mandatory panic button introduced as a safety measure for taxis, pointing out that there was no corresponding control room to monitor alerts.
“If there is no control room, what is the purpose of the panic button?” he questioned, alleging that the measure had effectively become another mechanism for collecting money rather than ensuring passenger safety. He warned that taxi operators were increasingly angry over the government’s unfair treatment of the sector.