PANJIM: The State government has notified the scheme for reimbursement of the cost of device upon fitment of fare meter of digital type with printer and global positioning system (GPS) tracking device in tourist taxis.
This scheme called as “Goa State Public Transport Reimbursement of Cost of Digital Fare Meter 2021” has come into force from May 25, the date of its publication in the Official Gazette and will be valid for a period of two years, i.e 2021-22 and 2022-23.
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Amidst opposition from the taxi operators, the Transport Department commenced the process of installation of digital fare meters from May 20, in compliance with the directives of the High Court of Bombay at Goa. The department has warned that no permit will be renewed if the operators fail to adhere to the fitment of the meters by June 30.
The scheme provides financial support to the taxi/rickshaw owners for installation of digital fare meters, as it covers the existing taxi/rickshaw owners with vehicles registered on or before March 31, 2021. The scheme is not available for the vehicles registered after April 1, 2021 and neither does it cover the vehicles registered under rent a cab.
The scheme is applicable for reimbursement of maximum one digital fare meter per individual vehicle owner. No subsidy will be released for more than one vehicle per vehicle owner and the scheme is once in the lifetime per vehicle owner.
The notification further states that the applicant shall install the digital fare meter within six months from the date of publication of notification of the scheme in the Government Official Gazette and claim for reimbursement within the period. Among a list of criteria, the applicant should be the resident of the State of Goa for not less than a period of 15 years and should possess all valid documents of the vehicle.
