PANJIM: Just 3807 taxis, of the more than 17,000 motor cabs registered in the State, have been fitted with digital meters at the end of the deadline for the fitment process.
Assistant Director of Transport Francisco Vaz said Rosemerta Autotech Private Limited has got 2693 bookings till date and has been able to fix digital meters to 2140 taxis. The second vendor Securinex has got around 4300 bookings and has been able to fix meters in 1667 taxis and has 2633 bookings pending.
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There are approximately 17,000 to 18,000 motor cabs eligible for installation of digital meters with GPS, he said.
Following protests by taxi operators demanding to scrap the GoaMiles app-based cab service and fee meters, the State government had amended the ‘Goa State Public Transport Reimbursement of Cost of Digital Fare Meter 2021’ Scheme and the entire cost of the meter – Rs 11,234 – is credited directly to the account of the taxi operators immediately after fitment of the device.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa had issued directives to the Department of Transport not to restore permits to the taxis who failed to fit digital meters, the government had terminated the permits of approximately 3000 taxis for not fitting meters within the given deadline.
The installation of digital meters has been taken up at four locations at Bordem-Bicholim, Merces, Navelim and Dabolim and the schedule fitment of the meters deadline as per the series of the vehicle registration numbers with automotive tracking device-emergency system-printer ended on October 30 this year.
Since a large number of taxi operators have failed to get the meters installed, the department is now in the process of cancelling their permits.
During the last hearing on September 20, the High Court had allowed the government to restore permits to the first series of operators provided they install meters. However, the fate of most taxi operators will now be decided by the court when it will hear the contempt petition filed by the Travel and Tourism Association-Goa (TTAG) on Monday. The Director of Transport is also likely to file his affidavit of compliance.
