Team Herald
MAPUSA: The North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association on Tuesday demanded action against the Maharashtra taxis plying illegally in the State.
The taxi owners gheraoed the Mapusa Road Transport Officer and informed him that the taxis/rent-a-cab vehicles without authorised digital meters are plying in the State.
The taxi owners stated that the taxis/rent-a-cab vehicles are of “Orix” travel agency from Mumbai, which are hired by the Election Commission of India for election duty in Goa and tender for the said taxis have been issued by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited (GTDC), which are ferrying passengers in rent-a-cab which is not in accordance with the Goa Motor Vehicles Act 1991.
The taxi owners also said that the taxis are not installed with the digital fare meters which are made compulsory for the local taxi owners to ply taxis in the State.
They further raised point questioning whether there are different laws for the taxis which are registered in the State of Goa and the taxis which are brought to Goa through the GTDC, which is a complete violation of Motor Vehicles Act.
The taxi owners stated that the tender and constitutional plying of the said taxis is in flagrant and brazen contempt and violation of the order of High Court of Bombay at Goa.
“If the department fails to amend the orders of the court and Act within 15 days, then the taxi owners will approach the High Court of Bombay at Goa by filling contempt petition,” they warned.
