Team Herald
PANJIM: Stepping up the ante against the taxi owners as well as GoaMiles, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday said all taxis in Goa, including the ones being operated by GoaMiles, will have to install digital meters by May 1, 2021.
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Godinho along with Transport Director Rajan Satardekar made this announcement while briefing media persons at the Ministerial Block at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Godinho explained that such a step was in line with the High Court directions and as part of the department’s bid to streamline taxi services in the State in an attempt to make it more transparent and reliable.
Satardekar also explained that GoaMiles operators use their phones for processing various data, phones that can be switched off whenever the operators feel like, whereas the digital meters supported by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) are tamper proof, and will keep all records of the movement of all taxis and their charges.
The Minister was speaking to the media after the department’s lengthy meeting with the protesting taxi operators, who have been on strike for 15 days.
Godinho admitted that he was not sure if the taxi operators would show up for the meeting and said despite the protestors comments to the media, he felt the meeting was a good one.
He reasoned that the meeting managed to open a direct line of communication between the government and the protestors for the first time since they went on the strike and that he believed all problems can be solved only via negotiations and discussions.
Pointing out that he refused to agree to any pre-conditions that were imposed by the taxi operators, Godinho said he informed them that despite the difference in the stance taken by the government and the protestors, the government was sympathetic to the difficulties and grievances faced by the taxi operators. He said he agreed with their contention that GoaMiles began without the stakeholders being taken into confidence.
“I was the Dabolim MLA and I was not taken into confidence when GoaMiles started,” said Godinho.
The BJP MLA, however, clarified that he wasn’t against GoaMiles and that he had informed the taxi owners delegation that the government will not be scrapping GoaMiles and that even if the government attempts to make such a move, the app-based taxi service would obtain a stay order from the High Court.
He also acknowledged that various industry associations and a large section of the public had batted for allowing app-based taxi services in the State or in the minimum to regulate the manner in which taxi operators’ function, in terms of how much they charge or try to use arm-twisting tactics. “There should be taxi services at cheaper rates and that can be held accountable,” he added.
Confirming that the government is not intending to allow another app-based taxi service as yet given the small size of Goa’s population and to protect the livelihoods of existing players, Godinho said he encouraged the local taxi operators to start their own app.
“Actually if we add a tweak to the digital meters, we can add a mobile application for booking the taxis. This way the customers, such as those arriving by flight, can beforehand book the local taxis, which will anyways be available waiting in a queue. They will also get their digital bills. I feel once the meters are installed, 80 per cent of the prevailing problems will be solved,” said Godinho.
He also announced that the file regarding transferring the two counters from the Tourism Department to the Transport Department is being processed and that the same would be finalised at the next cabinet meeting.
He announced that one counter will go to the United Taxi Association that is based in Dabolim while the other will go to Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC). He further announced that KTC’s electric buses will run from point to point from the airport to major destinations like Margao, Panjim, Calangute, etc.
The Transport Director explained that the electric buses won’t be using digital meters as they have their inbuilt tracking devices.
Godinho announced that the NIC monitoring and server system will be installed at a KTC building as the system will be able to create a digital footprint of the daily movements of these KTC buses and taxis. “The estimate for setting up these systems and facilities is Rs 3.5 crore,” Godinho said.
The minister also explained how taxi operators will get digital meters for free, as they will get reimbursed 50 per cent of the cost when they install the meters and remaining 50 per cent when they recharge the meters at the end of the first year.
He also recalled that the State government has been supportive to the taxi operators by not only waiving off various fees such as registration, penalties and renewals but also mulling a pension-type of scheme for taxi operators who are senior citizens.
