Panaji (Goa) In view of increasing violations of Transport Rules reported during the peak tourist season, the Directorate of Transport has begun cracking a whip on non transport private vehicles doubling up as tourist taxis and other commercial activities illegally. Within 12 days of launching the special drive, the department has booked 359 cases of which maximum 133 violations are reported in Mapusa.
Details indicate that in the drive from December 7-19, 359 cases are booked even as the ongoing drive will continue till month end.
The Enforcement (North) has booked 39 cases while Enforcement (South) has registered 102 cases, second in the list after Mapusa.
The report by Office of Assistant Director of Transport also reveals that commercial capital Margao has just 10 cases while Ponda has registered 20 violations and Canacona 21 cases during this period. The Bicholim taluka has witnessed 15 violations followed by 13 cases in Dharbandora and the last in the list with minimum cases are Pernem and Panaji recording 3 violations each.
Transport Director Nikhil Desai said that all assistant directors of transport were directed to carry out special checking of vehicles which are registered as non transport vehicles but illegally operating it as taxis. The instructions also sought to keep a tab on drivers who are driving the vehicles without public service vehicle authorisation, and to also identify and penalise drivers having the authorisation of another state but illegally driving taxis here.
In a circular issued to all taluka officers, Desai stated, “In order to curb rampant violations of use of non transport vehicles registered under private registration number for commercial activities and for transportation of goods or for hire purpose to transport passengers, it has been decided to undertake a special drive against sell such violators for the month of December 2017, during which period duchy violations are found to be maximum due to tourist season.”
The drive that began on December 6 will continue till January 5, 2018 with the director instructing his teams to submit daily report via mail to the head office and office if transport minister. The assistant director/s of transport failing to do so will face action..
