Goa: Installation of digital fare meters for taxis from August 1

PANAJI: State-wide installation of digital fare meters in tourist taxis will begin from August 1 and conclude within six months, the state government informed the high court of Bombay at Goa on Friday. However, implementation on pilot basis will be done between July 16 and July 31, the government told the court.
The integrated digital meter unit will comprise an automated tracking device with an emergency system, and fare meter with printer.

The department of transport, in a meeting held on June 13, had approved the fixation of the integrated unit in tourist taxis in the state. Advocate general Devidas Pangam submitted the minutes of the meeting before the court. “Implementation across Goa will begin from August 1. Taxis will not be able to get away with this,” advocate Gaurang Panandiker, representing the travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG), told reporters after the hearing.
Fitting of digital meters is mandatory as per Rule 140 of the Goa State Motor Vehicle Rules, 1991. All new taxis applying for a fresh permit from August 1 will have to compulsorily fit the meters as also those renewing their old permits.
Two out of three bidders qualified for the tender floated by Goa Electronics Ltd on behalf of the transport department last year and thereafter a letter of intent was issued and agreement signed with the lowest bidder M/s Rosmerta Autotech Pvt Ltd. The process of executing an agreement with M/s Securinez Inc is under progress, the government had informed the court during the last hearing.
Earlier this year, the government had told the high court that since the volume of meters to be supplied was high, it would ask the party quoting higher to match the lowest bid so that both could supply the meters. At a meeting held on May 14, both vendors agreed to install digital meters simultaneously and complete entire installation within four months.
The high court has been monitoring the matter since 2016 when TTAG petitioned the high court along with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry stating delays in the installation of taxi meters. The petition prayed for an order directing the government to strictly implement Rule 140 of the Goa Motor Vehicles Rules, 1991, of fitting taxis with fare meters after it kept extending the deadline for implementation.
The court has since passed a number of orders drawing attention of the state to the issue, and even imposed Rs 10,000 penalty last year on the transport department for needless delay in the issue.