the goan I network
MARGAO
Transport and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday mulled an examination in future before issuing taxi permits, even as he asserted that the coalition government has not discriminated against the Opposition-ruled constituencies.
After launching the Margao ring-road beautification works at Aquem in the presence of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Dhavlikar further said that the crack down on sand mining has been initiated on the directions of the High Court, even as he said there will be no re-think on the installation of GPS for public transport vehicles.
Referring to Digambar Kamat’s warning that reports are doing the rounds that taxi permits are for sale for the highest bidder, Sudin warned of action against anyone, including officials if any attempt is made to demand money for the taxi permits. “We will issue around 100 taxi permits, but there will be an exam conducted by the Goa College of Engineering for the drivers to test their knowledge about the Act’, he said, while announcing that it was the Margao MLA, who had approached him with the twin demand of beautifying the ring-road and to issue taxi permit for the 43 tourist taxi operators operating from the Aquem side of the railway station.
Asserting that the government does not discriminate against Opposition-represented constituencies, the PWD Minister said works worth around Rs 20 crore each has been simultaneously initiated in all the 40 constituencies. He thanked Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for the development works, saying, “I cannot forget the Chief Minister, with whose blessings we have gone forward with the works”.
Dhavalikar further said the government is committed to connect the major towns in the State to the sewerage scheme, warning that the government would step in and levy charges of sewerage in the water bill if people do not take the connections.
SUDIN: TOUGH TALK
Action will be taken against anyone, including officials if any attempt is made to demand money for taxi permits
Around 100 taxi permits will be issued, but there will be an exam conducted by GCE for drivers to test their knowledge about the Act
SEWAGE: Govt will step in and levy charges in water bill if people do not take connections
FLYOVERS: Govt will build as many as four flyovers at Rawanfond junction, Power house junction, Arlem and Nuvem junctions to ease traffic congestion
