Team Herald
PANJIM: The tourist taxi operators on Friday warned the State government to take the law in their own hands if “harassment” over digital fare meters is not stopped within 48 hours.
A delegation of aggrieved taxi owners submitted a memorandum to the Transport Department that the dealer, finalised by the government, has failed to install the meters despite confirming the booking.
“We came to meet the Director (Transport) but since he isn’t in his office, we met the Deputy Director explaining our ordeal. We have booked with the dealer installation of digital meters around two months back but it isn’t installed so far. So is this is our fault? Why are the Traffic Police issuing us challans?” one of the taxi operators V Naik told the media persons.
The taxi owners said that after being forced by the government, they have booked with the designated dealer for the installation but the work is not going smoothly.
“The RTO officers do not stop us but the Traffic Police impose penalty for violation of the MV Act. We show them the booking confirmation receipts, in spite which we have to pay the penalty. Why is the dealer not taken to task instead of harassing us,” Naik asked.
Another taxi operator warned that if stopped by the police further, they will abandon their vehicle in the middle of the road. “We will take the vehicle keys with us and leave the vehicle on the road, if the police keep harassing us. It’s time we take the law in our hands. Let there be a traffic jam. The government and the cab aggregator and corporates are hand in gloves and harassing us,” he said demanding that the harassment be stopped within 48 hours.
