Panaji: Even as the list of taxi permits to be cancelled permanently has been prepared, the state government is in two minds on whether to go ahead with it or not.
According to the data available, of the 3,584 taxis registered in the state under the 0 and 1 series, only 137 owners have fitted the digital meter and 513 have booked a slot for fitting the meter, while the remaining 2,934 are on the list of permits to be cancelled.
The government is in a dilemma because on one side it has to implement the directive of the High Court of Bombay at Goa while on the other, the government has to also protect the livelihood of the taxi operators, as once the permits are cancelled, they cannot be reissued.
According to sources, yet another factor is the political consideration, as some politicians are trying to protect their vote bank and hence are deliberating on ways to push the issue of fitment of digital meters further till the end of the forthcoming assembly election.
Many taxi operators have started approaching politicians so as to put pressure on the government to delay the meter installation process till the end of the assembly polls.
“We want to cancel their permits but at the same time, we also have to consider their livelihood. We are helpless, as there is a High Court direction. They (taxi operators) are demanding more time to instal meters claiming that they are financially hit by the pandemic and won’t be able to pay cost of meter. We are in a dilemma. Once their permits get cancelled, they can’t be reissued and the operators have to move the High Court to revoke the order on cancellation of permits,” an official said.
The set deadline to instal digital meters in taxis registered under series 0 and 1 expired on July 25, with no cancellation of permits done yet. The next schedule for installing the meters in taxis with registration number ending with 2 and 3 has already begun from July 26 and will continue till August 18.
The total cost of a digital meter, integrated with an automotive tracking device, emergency system and printer, with one-year free maintenance and one-year data and online monitoring charges, including goods and services tax (GST), is Rs 11,234.
However, the government is running a scheme providing for the reimbursement of cost of the digital meter with printer and global positioning system (GPS) tracking device to the tune of Rs 8,579 or the actual cost of device, whichever is less, with no refund to be paid on data charges, backend service charges and annual maintenance contract. The first instalment of Rs 4,290 will be paid after three weeks from the date of installation and operation of the digital meter, and the balance of Rs 4,289 will be paid one year after renewal of the yearly data charges and furnishing of proof to this effect.