Travel and Tourism Association of Goa has been demanding this for long, but every time there has been an attempt to take this forward, there have been objections from the taxi operators who raise queries on various issues. The case has been disposed by the court following the assurance given by the government, but it still leaves a number of issues undecided – the main being how will the government that has always faltered in convincing the operators to install the meters, do so this time. Given the past experience, will the taxi operators accept this easily?

The Transport Department has decided to remain firm this time and has given the taxi operators an ultimatum – install the digital fare meters or face cancellation of the licences. For the first time the department appears to be serious and means business when it comes to the installation of the meters. These gadgets that will regulate how much a person hiring a cab should pay, were to have been installed years earlier, but the process has been stalled every time there was a move to get it done, and it was only after tourism stakeholders knocked on the doors of the judiciary that the government assured it would see this to its implementation. But, it won’t be easy, and hence the ultimatum.

Taxi operators have resisted the installation of digital fare meters, and any other innovations, whenever these have been proposed. The taxi men have risen as one in opposition, forcing the government to backpedal on almost every proposal, to the extent that the State has in the past found it difficult to even implement certain rules of the Central Motor Vehicle Act, as well as directives of the Supreme Court where taxis in Goa are concerned. It is for this reason that the digital fare meters remained without being installed in the taxis, and required the intervention of the court to make it happen. 

While as yet the tourist taxi operators have not responded to the assurances of the government to the court, the success of this installation of digital fare meters depends entirely on their cooperation with the authorities. Earlier, whenever the government has entered into negotiations with the tourist taxi operators on issues – be it digital fare meters, GPS, speed govenors – the latter have had their way, with the government often bowing down to the threats of protests. It is time that the operators of the tourist taxis fall in line, and if it is the warning of cancellation of licence that will do the trick, then so be it. But, the department is planning awareness sessions for the stakeholders, possibly to bring them around.

The timetable is out – the fares will be notified in less than a fortnight’s time, and following that the process of installing the meters will begin. It is time for the taxi operators to meet the government on this. In the past, since the year 2013-14, the State has released Rs 30 crore as subsidies to taxi operators under the Goa State Subsidy for yellow/black motorcycles, yellow/black autorickshaws, yellow/black taxis and tourist taxis scheme. It has now also promised a subsidy for the installation of the digital fare meters, which is a one time expense for the taxi operators. With such concessions, there should be no plausible reason to oppose this installation. This will not only give those who hire the taxis a ride at a reasonable fare, but the reputation that Goa has been getting of exorbitant taxi hire charges will end. It looks to be a win-win situation.