PANJIM: The State government has will grant 50 per cent subsidy for installing digital meters and GPS tracking system on all commercial cabs in the state. However, it seems, the move has failed to cheer taxi operators.
The transport department had made it mandatory for all commercial cabs operating in the state to install digital meters from January 1 but the taxi associations, both in North and South Goa, had opposed the move as they stated that there was no clarity on the issue.
Sources said the file was been cleared by the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
The cabs are required to also install GPS tracking system and also a printer. Meters fitted will have to be certified by the state transport authority.
Sources say, “The file to this effect of 50 per cent subsidy on both digital meters and GPS system or Rs 5000 each whichever is lesser has been approved by the government.”
Further, sources said, the deadline for the installation of digital meters and the GPS system has now been extended to April 1.
There are about 13000 cabs, both in North and South Goa, and @ of Rs 10,000 subsidy (Rs 5000 for GP and Rs 5000 for meters) the state will have to cough up a whopping 13 crores for subsidy.
Director of Transport Sunil Masurkar when contacted refused to confirm or reject the development.
“Nothing has come to me so far,” he told Herald.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who has taken up the issues of taxi owners with the government, however, confirmed the development stating “the file for 50 per cent subsidy on Digital Meters and GPS has been cleared by the chief minister.”
“I have already spoken to the Director of Transport and a meeting will be convened in January of North and South Taxi associations along with the coastal MLAs on the matter to create awareness,” he said adding “we have also requested the chief minister to be present for the meeting.”
However, the North Goa Taxi Association doesn’t seemed to be satisfied with just the subsidy but wants more assurances from the government.
“First of all, we are ready to fix meters and GPS only if they assure that no permits will be given to rent-a-cab and secondly they must tell us how the charges would be fixed based on type of vehicle and the routes,” NGTTOA secretary Vinayak Nanoskar told Herald.
“We are happy that the government is giving us 50 per cent subsidy, maximum upto Rs 5000, but we need to know what would be the prices of these digital meters,” he said.
The notification issued by the government earlier this month has made it clear that no new permit to a motor cab shall be granted or its existing permit renewed unless the motor cab is fitted with a digital meter.
Also, the permit of a motor cab shall not be transferred unless it is fitted with the digital meter, states the notification.
Those motor cab owners refusing to install digital meters will not be issued a fitness certificate or their existing fitness certificate will not be renewed.
