Tourist taxi, bus permit fees hiked
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 22
The State Transport Department has hiked the permit fees of all the tourist taxis and buses registered under various categories.
As per the draft notification issued under Goa Motor Vehicles rules, 1991 on May 12, 2010, the Transport Department has hiked the permit fees, which will be effective from today.
As per the fresh notification, which will be termed as Goa Motor Vehicles Rules 2010, all Goa tourist taxis will have to shell out Rs 1000 as against Rs 150. Similarly, all India tourist taxis will have to pay Rs 5000 as permit fees as against earlier Rs 150.
The permit fees for all Goa tourist buses and all India tourist buses have been also hiked to Rs 4,000 and Rs 5000 respectively as against Rs 300.
Withdrawing, the earlier fees of Rs 150 and 70 each, the department has now asked the yellow/black taxies, auto rickshaw and motorcycles to pay Rs 500, Rs 300 and Rs 150 each.
The all Goa maxi cabs will have to pay now Rs 2000 while all India maxi cabs have to shell out Rs 3000 as permit fees.
The stage carriage permit fees are also hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 1500.
The notification, which was based on the objections and suggestions received from the public over the said draft rules, was passed as the tourists operators failed to provide proper reasons for the objection.
Transport Director Arun Desai confirmed that six objections were received by the department, but were not of much importance.
Nearly, 4500 tourist buses and 2500 tourist taxis are operational in Goa. A hike in the permit fees by more than 10 percent has raised strong unhappiness amongst the tourist vehicle operators.
“In a condition where there is hike in petrol, diesel and with increasing expenses of spare parts it’s not feasible to conduct the business. Government is also not thinking towards increasing the fare rates,” member of All Goa Tourists taxi Association said.
He feels that rather than harassing tourists taxi operators, government need to think on improving their business.
Since May, 2010 the associations like All Goa Autorickshaw Association (AGAA), Taximan’s Union (TU) and All Goa Taxi Unions Association (AGTUA) has been demanding for hike, which is Rs 10 for first three kilometers, currently.
The hiked rates demanded by these unions also vary. AGAA are asking for Rs 20 for first three kilometers, while TU wants Rs 12 and AGTUA have demanded for Rs 15.
Though the matter was put up before STA, it could not come to a conclusion.
Accordingly, last week a meeting of tourist vehicle operators was called by transport director. The meeting was attended by representatives from AGTUA, AGAA, TU, Black and Yellow tourist vehicles association and airport tourist taxi association.
During the meeting, Desai sought detail report on diesel prices, rates of spare parts and salary structure of 2006 and 2010. The report has been scrutinized by the director, which will be now forwarded to the state government for further decision.
“The hike rates where last revised in 2006 hence there are chances that government might think over the proposal,” Desai stated.
