Team Herald
PANJIM: The Department of Transport, Panjim said that the taxi operators will have to first do the fitment of digital fare meters at their cost and that the department will reimburse the full amount on submission of the receipt/bill.
Reacting to taxi operators charge that the agencies/vendors are refusing to fit meters to taxis despite statement made by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant that the government will provide free of cost meters to them, an official said that the taxi operators will have to first fitment these meters and then submit their bills to the department for refund.
“There is no provision in the government business rules to directly pay to the vendor. The government cannot pay to the vendor but to the beneficiary. We require paid bill so as to reimburse the full money,” the department official said.
He said that though the cost of the digital meter is Rs 8,579, the operator will have to pay total Rs 11,234 including charges for back-end services like printer, automotive tracking device and emergency system.
The government has appointed two vendors namely Rosmerta Autotech Private Limited and the Securinex Inc for the fitment of digital meters for motor cabs in the State.
Currently taxis with registration number ending with 6 or 7 will have to fit meters between September 13 and October 6. The department is also likely to seek High Court’s intervention in the matters of those operators, who have now given undertaking to fit meters.
Meanwhile, the Director of Transport is learnt to have filed a further status report indicating the steps/action taken in terms of his undertakings given to the High Court.
Also the contempt petition filed by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) will come up for hearing before the Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday, September 20.
