PANAJI
Passengers and tourists travelling in Goa taxis will soon be able to scan QR codes displayed in the vehicles to check the government-notified fares, providing greater transparency and clarity on taxi charges.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, speaking at a joint press conference with taxi operators, said the proposal was approved by the State Transport Authority at its recently held meeting.
The initiative will mark the beginning of a common digital platform for taxi operators across the State and is being considered a middle path, as taxi operators were not keen on joining an app-based platform, Lobo said.
He added that taxis would no longer use meters and that the notified fares would also apply to GoaMiles services. The system is expected to ensure greater clarity and transparency in fares for passengers, he said.
Social activist and taxi operators’ leader Sudip Tamhankar said the solution had been suggested by the operators and would help do away with allegations of overcharging against them.
Tamhankar also said the government had fixed the base fare for taxi operators, which would be notified soon. Depending on the type of vehicle, the fare for the first 3 km would be Rs 300, while the fare for 3 to 8 km would be Rs 445. Per-kilometre charges would apply thereafter.
