No licences for new taxis, pilots for a year -ToI

No licences for new taxis, pilots for a year TNN | Mar 7, 2013, 05.03 AM IST PANAJI: The state transport authority (STA) has decided to put a moratorium on issuing new permits for motorcycle pilots and taxis for one year. Transport director Arun Desai said the STA which met on Wednesday found that the number of motorcycle pilots had gone up to16,500 and that of taxis to 1,100. STA also deferred the decision on the demand for a fare hike by associations of auto rickshaws, buses, taxis, and motorcycles pilots to March 15. Desai said the department has received representations from different bodies demanding a hike in fares. STA also decided to increase the number of the seats reserved for women in buses. Henceforth, 37-seater buses will have eight seats reserved for women and bigger buses will have 12 seats set aside for women. Presently, just six seats are reserved for women in buses with more than 37 seats. There is no change in the number of seats reserved for handicapped persons and senior citizens. The transport director said it will be the bus conductor's duty to ensure that seats reserved for women are not occupied by men. If a reserved seat is occupied by a man, the passenger and conductor will be fined Rs 100 each. Bus owners will have to display their contact numbers in buses and also issue identity cards to their drivers and conductors. The department will also go ahead with its earlier decision of not renewing licences of buses that have been on the road for 15 years and more. There are 315 such buses which the transport department intends to see off the road within the next three years. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/No-licences-for-new-taxis-pilots-for-a-year/articleshow/18841699.cms