PANJIM: The Transport Department has disbursed Rs 2 lakh each to 59 beneficiaries under the Goa State Interim Compensation to Road Accident Victims Scheme. Sixteen e-services were also launched by the department as parts of its plan to move more services online and do away with the need for people to visit the RTO offices in person.
This was announced by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho while addressing media persons on Tuesday.
Godinho said the State Cabinet will take a call on implementing the new Motor Vehicle Act in Goa at its meeting that will be held on Wednesday, June 9. He explained that the file had been cleared and has been sent to the Chief Minister. He added that they have kept the fines to the bare minimum but that they have to implement it or else they would face action from the Centre, having already appealed to them earlier.
On the compensation given to families of fatal accident victims, Godinho said that the government is considering extending the period of time under which applications can be made to the scheme. Presently it is only six months. Godinho explained that there are many applicants who sent the applications after six months. “The government is now looking into this as there are funds still available under the scheme. The State wants to reach out to more families,” said Godinho.
The e-services, which include applications for new, renewal, duplicate and cancellation of national permits, goods carriage permit, authorisation of all India permit, temporary permit, etc will be operational from June 11, Friday. These have been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Godinho added that there are 158 other schemes that they wish to make digital.
Finally, Godinho admitted that there has been a lukewarm response to the digital meters but he said it could have been due to the pandemic or monsoon but insisted that there will be no further postponement of the same or else the State government will be pulled up by the High Court if it is not completed within 6 months.
