PANJIM: As the installation of GPS-enabled digital meters on the tourist taxis is set to begin from May, the government is determined to ensure that vehicles are fitted with the advanced gadget by August-September 2019.
The government, in February appointed Rosemerta Autotech Pvt Ltd and Securinex to implement the digital meters and issued the work order in March first week. The two agencies are expected to manufacture as many as 33,000 digital meters by June-end.
“Work is in full swing and the companies have already begun the production (of digital meters) at their respective factories. They are expected to complete manufacturing 33,000 digital meters by June-end and in the meantime, the installation would begin from May,” a source said. Transport Department is ensuring that all taxis, including GoaMiles cabs, are fitted with digital meters by August-September this year.
The government finalised the two lowest bidders to ensure that taxi operators do not face any inconvenience over procurement and installation of digital meters. In the first six months, Rosemerta will have the rights to implement the project. Securinex will join thereafter. The officer said that the implementation will help tourism in Goa.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders had approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa in February 2017, alleging that the government was illegally and unconstitutionally keeping in abeyance implementation of the decision for implementing the digital meters. The petitioners had sought directions for its immediate enforcement.
The government in November 2018 invited bids for installation of the digital meters in taxis after the court pulled up the Transport Department for a ‘needless delay.’ The State then informed the High Court that it had to scrap the entire earlier process on fitting of digital meters due to a change in specification for Automotive Tracking Device and that the officers were made aware of the new standard during a meeting with the International Centre for Automative Technology (ICAT) and the Goa Electronics Limited held on August 20, 2018.
