Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Taxi owners from today met the Transport Department to oppose the state government’s decision to levy an annual maintenance charge of Rs 4,654 for the taxi fare meter, which was made compulsory for all tourist taxis in the state last year.
Taxi owners had earlier also opposed the installation of the taxi meters, following which the government had agreed to provide a subsidy.
“We oppose the state government decision to levy an annual maintenance charge of Rs 4,654 for the taxi fare meter, which was made compulsory for all tourist taxis in the state from last year,” said taxi operators
The taxi operators alleged that this was a scam as the government would earn Rs 12 crore from this.
“Government has failed. If the government is not ready with these features, why should we pay charges,” they said
The taxi operators alleged that the BJP government is out to finish the local taxi operators and Goans; all they want is money.
“If the department is not listening to our demands, we will bring our vehicles here in the office and protest. This is a scam,” they said
They said that those opposing the move are running a considerable risk as the state is firm about not renewing the permits of those taxis which fail to complete the installation within the stipulated amount of time.
To facilitate the move, the state government has arranged for a reimbursement scheme whereby the state will bear the installation cost for all those cabbies who adhere to the stipulated deadline.
At Rs.11,234/-, the fitment will come with one-year free maintenance and one-year data and online monitoring charges, including GST.
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