Cabinet approves scheme to reimburse digital meters cost

Team Herald 

PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Friday approved a scheme for reimbursement of the cost of device upon fitment of digital fare meters with printer and global positioning system (GPS) tracking device for taxis.  

The fitment of tracking device on taxi will provide operational readiness for implementation of intelligent transport management system (ITMS) in the future and which will improve last mile connectivity.  

The government is of the opinion that the digital meters and tracking device with bring transparency in fare calculation while application of information technology in public transport will encourage more number of citizens and tourists to opt for public transport thus reducing use of personal two-wheelers and rent-a-bike service. It will also fetch higher income for taxi operators. Lead to less traffic congestion and bring improvement in road safety. 

By another note, the Cabinet decided to regularise and grant ex-post facto approval for taking on lease the three tourist information counters from Airport Authority of India (AAI) at the Dabolim Airport and to transfer two counters from the Tourism Department to the Transport Department there. 

Speaking to the reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the Cabinet decided to regularise and grant ex-post facto approval for taking on lease three tourist information counters numbers 26, 29 and 30 from the AAI at the Dabolim Airport with effect from March 2014 at the rates specified by the AAI.

The Cabinet approved that the total rental and other charges of the three counters from March 2014 to April 2021 amounting to over Rs 1.58 crore will be initially paid by the Tourism Department to the AAI, of which amount corresponding to two counters 29 and 30 will be paid respectively by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the Transport Department to the Tourism Department.

The Cabinet further granted approval to the AAI at Dabolim Airport to allot two counters numbers 29 and 30 to the Transport Department upon payment of outstanding dues. 

The Transport Department will use the two counters for facilitating public transport for the passengers.

Henceforth, all future payments for the counters will be paid by the respective parties occupying the counter with the approval of the government.