PANAJI
Claiming that taxis from other states hired for election duty in the State have not been fitted with digital meters, taxi owners on Thursday threatened to approach the high court claiming disparity in laws for outstation taxi operators and local taxi operators.
Local taxi owners on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Director of Transport complaining that taxis plying without digital meters is against the law in the State and have threatened to approach the high court if action is not taken within 15 days.
“Taxis of a Mumbai-based travel agency have been hired by the Election Commission for election-related work,” said Bappa Korgaonkar of the Taxi Owners Association.
“The Goa Tourism Development Corporation has issued the tenders and hires these taxis for election commission, informed Korgaonkar.
He claimed that plying of passengers in a rent-a-cab is not in accordance with the Goa Motor Vehicles Rules 1991, while these taxis have not been installed with Digital Fare Meters which are made compulsory for taxi in the State.
“These taxis are running in the State by violating two Motor Vehicle laws and we will not tolerate this,” said Korgaonkar.
The memorandum has also claimed a flaw in the tendering process, stating that such a tender in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act is a brazen contempt and violation of the court order.
The taxi owners have attached photographs of the taxis/rent-a-cab vehicles plying in the State.
