Digital meters may soon be compulsory for Goa cabs: Minister

PANAJI: Owners of taxis in Goa may soon be directed to compulsorily install GPS tracking devices along with digital meters and printers in their vehicles, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said on Wednesday.

In his written reply in the Goa legislative assembly, Dhavalikar said the step would facilitate a "secure environment and proper taxi fares for citizens and tourists" alike.

"For stronger enforcement and in order to facilitate a secure environment and proper (fare) tariff, for citizens and visiting tourists, it is proposed to install digital fare meters with printer and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices as approved by the state transport authority," Dhavalikar said.

Many operators of Goa's 7,000-odd tourist taxis have often been accused of overcharging and intimidating passengers and operating in an unregulated environment.

Several attempts by the state government to install and implement the fare meters system in the past have failed.

The state attracts nearly three million tourists annually and taxis are one of the most common modes of public transport for them.