PANAJI
Reiterating their opposition to digital fare meters, taxi operators in the State have instead supported a mobile app-based billing system as it would save the government Rs 35 crore by way of subsidy on digital fare meters.
Speaking on behalf of taxi operators at a news conference, All Goa Private Bus Owner Association General Secretary Sudip Tamhankar said an app-based billing system is better than the government’s digital fare meter system.
"The present digital meter system will cost the State government Rs 32 crore through subsidy besides the cost burden on individual taxi operators. The app-based bill system will save this cost for the government and taxi operators as the app is free of cost and can be downloaded on any mobile,” said Tamhankar.
One taxi operator provided a demonstration of an electronic billing system based on the app downloaded on a mobile phone.
"This is just a simple app which can be downloaded. This app-based on GPS system shows the exact distance travelled by taxi and electronic bill is generated based on the government rates,” said the taxi operator.
Tamhankar said the taximen presently have to buy a digital meter at a cost of Rs 11,500 and some of the subsidies would be given by the government after some time.
“Also, there will be annual upgradation charges of around Rs 4,000 which the taxi operators have to pay to the company every year,” said Tamhankar.
Advocating the app-based billing system, Tamhankar said taxi operators in other states also follow this app-based billing system.
“With this app-based billing system, there will be uniformity between billing systems among taximen of all states,” he said.
Tamhankar is one of the petitioners who have filed a petition in High Court against digital fare meters.
The ball is now back in the government’s court and the government has to consider the this app-based billing system as the best way forward, said Tamhankar.
