Team Herald
PORVORIM: After announcing ‘One-time Free Installation of Digital Fare Meters’ scheme in the State Budget 2021-22, the Minister for Transport Mauvin Godinho on Friday told House that the fitment of meters on taxis will be completed in six months.
Godinho, in a written reply, said that the government has amended Section 140 of Goa Motor Vehicles Rules 1991 wherein every motor cab will be fitted with digital fare meter with printer, Global Positioning System (GPS) along with Panic Button.
He said that after floating e-tender, work order is issued to empanelled vendor to supply devices. “Government will soon start fitment of devices on taxis. Expected time to complete the fitment of Fare Meters on taxis is 6 months,” Godinho said.
According to the information provided to the State Assembly, there are 674 Yellow/Black taxis, 14,575 All India taxis, 2593 All Goa taxis, 2250 are APP based taxis and another 1246 are registered as motorcycle taxis.
Responding to Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat querry, the Minister said that the Directorate of Transport is a regulatory authority and enforces under Motor Vehicles Act 1988. The provisions of Motor Vehicles Act are implemented in respect of Taxi in Goa, he added.
He further said that while government has given permission to M/s. Frotamiles Private Limited to operate Goa Miles App based Aggregator in the State, no permission is granted to operate any APP based two wheeler services.
In a State Budget, placed before House on March 24, the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant proposed to develop a scheme to encourage installation of digital meters in commercial vehicles for which a provision of Rs. 32 crores has been made. The government has decided to provide a One-Time Free-Installation of Digital fare meters, too.
