Team Herald
PANJIM: At least 50 per cent of total tourist taxis having registration number ending with digits 0-1 are likely to face cancellation of permits for failing to adhere to the deadline set out by the government for installation of digital meters.
The issue is being closely monitored by the High Court of Bombay at Goa that, in its order dated May 6, 2021 directed commencing fitment of Digital Fare Meter within a period of 15 days and in subsequent order dated July 5, 2021 asked the government to conclude the exercise within six months.
The Transport Department mid-July issued a public notice asking tourist taxi operators having vehicles with registration number ending with last digit 0 or 1, to ensure fitment of digital meters by July 24, 2021.
“Transport Department is in no mood to extend the deadline, as per the public notice as well as High Court directions. Vehicle permits of those taxi operators who failed to comply with the order are liable to be cancelled or suspended,” a senior officer in the department told Herald.
The transport officials have already begun collecting the data of the entire exercise carried out from July 1-24, 2021 for further action. In the meantime, the department has started the fitment of meters for tourist taxis with numbers that end with 2-3 from July 26, 2021. Its deadline is August 18, 2021. For registration number ending with 4 or 5, the dates are from August 19 to September 11, 2021; numbers 6 or 7 has deadline for installation from September 13 to October 6, 2021, and for registration digits 8 or 9, the meters must be installed from October 7 to October 30, 2021.
“On failing to get the meters installed, the department has warned to cancel their permits on the very next day of the deadline,” the officer reiterated.
