Despite government’s “Cashless Goa” drive, the transport department and the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have failed to follow the diktat.
Transport Department and the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in Goa accept only cash payment, the department has failed to adapt to the cashless system following the announcement made by the state government. The authorities who were insistent to impose cashless system on vendors and traders also seem hesitant to put the cashless system in place where most people are involved on daily basis.
The Transport Dept is one of biggest source of revenue to the government. The Besides keeping the cash mode of payment facility, RTOs in the neighbouring States have already started the process of shifting all payments through cashless system.
However, in Goa, the senior transport dept officials informed that going cashless is not feasible as per present State Finance Department rules. The official, on condition of anonymity, explained that there is need to open a separate bank account of the department to make use of point of sale (PoS) machines. According to Finance Department, except corporations, none of the departments are allowed to open their individual bank accounts, the officer added.
“This is the reason the cashless system is not being implemented in the government departments so far,” the official said.
He said even if the account is created after amending some rules of the Finance Department, the cash has to be transferred to the state coffers daily, which is not feasible.
The Transport Department and the RTOs across Goa presently accept all the fees and taxes in cash only.
Besides this, the public can make online payments or via DD.
Transport Director Sunil Masurkar informed that there is an increase in both payment modes — online and DDs, post demonetisation since November 8, 2016.
Most people face inconvenience while registering their new vehicles, paying taxes, which are above the daily and weekly withdrawal limit of an individual. In the absence of cashless system in the RTOs, the people have to either avail the DDs from banks or arrange cash. Besides registration fees, there are almost a dozen of other fees, which are often paid by the public including fees — learning, licence, driving test, smart card, RC, MDL smart card, various permits of commercial vehicles, road tax, renewal, challans, fines and cess.
Another Transport Department officer said with the cashless system, the cashier has to give separate receipts, which is not possible on PoS machines. “Going cashless is no problem but you have to change the entire system in the department,” the official added.
The present system issues the challans or receipts for a particular payment, which an individual has to produce before another officer for further process.
“This is the reason why I say you need to change the entire system in the department if it wants to implement the cashless system,” the officer added.
