Team Herald
PANJIM: Observing that bikes and scooters are illegally rented out to tourists, who many at times violate rules, the State government has warned to take action against such people and to confiscate the vehicle.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant personally came across tourists riding two-wheelers, illegally on Atal Setu, where movement of scooters and bikes are banned.
“If anyone caught giving their personal two-wheeler on rent (to tourists), then the police and Transport Department will act strictly. The owners will not get back their vehicles, once they’re seized,” Sawant said on Wednesday.
Sawant said he observed an incident earlier in the day when he was passing on the Atal Setu, where two-wheelers are not allowed.
“A Goan will never ride on this bridge. It was not a rented bike. Someone had given that bike on rent illegally,” he said in presence of Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho.
Speaking further, Godinho said the government will issue directions to all the rent-a-bike operators to provide ISI-mark helmets to tourists.
“I am implementing a rule where those operators providing rent-a-bike will have to produce ISI-mark helmets. We have seen that they don’t give ISI-mark helmets to tourists. Ordinary helmets, without the ISI-mark are not safe,” he said.
Speaking on the “Goa Taxi” app service, Godinho said the app will provide 90 per cent of its fare to the taxi owners, five per cent to operation cost and 5 per cent will be contributed to taxi welfare for their benefit,” he said.
The app which will be developed and operated by Goa Electronics Limited will be a non-profit making initiative for the State government, the minister said.
“Affordable app-based taxis will result in less drunken driving, mitigate parking issues and result in more efficient use of vehicles. Therefore app-based taxis must be introduced in Goa,” he said while adding that the app will be launched in January, next year.
