PANJIM: Following a five-month delay, the government is set to implement the installation of digital fare meters for tourist taxis. To begin with, the government, as assured in the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday, will issue a notification on the fares within a fortnight.
During the hearing of Public Interest Litigations (PIL), the government submitted that a week after the notification, the installation process would commence, and the project will take at least six months to complete.
At the last hearing in December 2019, Advocate General Devidas Pangam had informed the court that the scheme started on a pilot basis from December 26, 2019. “No sooner the implementation, in all respects is successful and some teething issues are sorted out, steps will be taken to implement the scheme on a regular basis. It may not be possible to make a definite statement on this issue at this stage but the same will be made on the next date,” Pangam had stated.
On Monday, the AG submitted that the pilot project has been successful and the rates would be notified in 15 days. “After the notification, the contractor appointed for the project will begin with the installation of the digital meters in a week’s time,” he stated, adding it would take around six months for the project’s completion.
The high court had last October slapped a contempt notice on the State for not adhering to its order dated July 5, 2019 directing implementation of the project from August 1, 2019. The notice was issued based on a contempt petition by the original petitioner Travel and Tourism Association of Goa. The Transport Director tendered an unconditional apology while citing that delay in the installation of digital meters was due to practical difficulties and subsequent events.
