Kamal Ghorui
Panaji: The State govt told the Bombay high court on Monday that the rent-a-cab scheme was kept on hold as there were too many of them.Advocate general Devidas Pangam told the high court during a hearing that the govt realised there were too many people in the competition, and this created unhealthy competition.He said this also created another issue, that of parking, and put a burden on infrastructure.“Govt decided that, as of now, whatever facilities are there in the state are enough,” he told the court.He clarified that the state did not “close” the scheme but “kept it on hold” in view of the number of vehicles registered under it.Govt, however, kept a window open, and the AG said that in the future, if required, the state will accept more applications.The high court was hearing a petition by a proprietor who claimed that the application he made under the rent-a-cab scheme was not decided for almost one year despite the scheme being in force.Govt in July last year directed the state transport department to stop issuing new licences and permits under the rent-a-cab scheme, stating that the move was necessary to prevent overcrowding and enhance road safety in the state.
