Porvorim, August 6: RTI activist Sudip Narayan Tamankar has urged Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho to immediately intervene and allow the manual renewal of pending Rent-a-Bike permits that have remained unprocessed since 2024 due to alleged software issues in the National Informatics Centre (NIC) system.

In a representation submitted to the Transport Minister on August 5, Tamankar stated that numerous renewal applications have remained pending with the Transport Department for nearly two years. He claimed that officials informed him the delay was caused by technical glitches in the NIC software, leaving operators uncertain about the status of their permits.

According to the memorandum, the prolonged delay has severely affected the livelihoods of Rent-a-Bike operators and has disrupted tourism-related businesses. Tamankar also alleged that the original permit documents have been retained by the department since 2024, while operators have no mechanism to verify whether their permits have been renewed, are still under process, or have expired.

He warned that the lack of transparency exposes operators to the risk of penalties during routine inspections despite the delays being beyond their control. The uncertainty has also imposed a financial burden on vehicle owners, he said.

Tamankar has requested the government to:

Allow manual processing and renewal of all pending 2024 Rent-a-Bike permit applications until the NIC software becomes fully functional.

Issue temporary extension certificates or official acknowledgements enabling operators to continue their business legally without fear of fines.

Stressing that tourism is the backbone of Goa’s economy, Tamankar said the Rent-a-Bike sector plays a vital role in serving visitors and supporting local livelihoods. He appealed to the Transport Minister to take swift action to resolve the administrative deadlock and provide immediate relief to affected operators.