SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government will terminate the permits of 2934 taxis in the State whose registered series start from 0 and 1, for not fitting digital fare meters within the prescribed deadline of July 25, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said on Wednesday.
Giving details, Godinho said that there are 3584 taxis registered under the 0 and 1 series in the State of which 137 owners have fitted their taxis with digital fare meters and 513 have booked a slot for fitting the meters.
“Permits of the remaining 2934 taxis will be cancelled as per the High Court directive. They have no alternative and I too have no alternative but to cancel their permits for not complying with the High Court order,” he said.
The fitting of digital fare meters with printer, automatic tracking device and emergency system for taxis with next series ending with 2 or 3 has already commenced and will continue till August 18, followed by other series.
Also the number of vending/fitting centres have been increased from to four to eight in the State.
The Transport Minister said that taxi operators will have to pay the entire cost of digital meters during installation and the same will be reimbursed to them by the department in two installments. Within three to four days of fitment of the meters, the taxi operators will have to apply for the first 50 per cent reimbursement and the same will be credited in their accounts soon thereafter. The remaining 50 per cent will be given to them when they recharge the digital meter after one year, he added.
Godinho reiterated that taxi operators are important stakeholders in the tourism industry and that the government is committed to helping them. He said that two taxi counters will be allotted to yellow and black taxi operators at the Dabolim airport at concessional rates.
