04 Dec 2020  |   05:17am IST

Tourist bus operators allege illegalities by ISL organisers

Inform DGP hiring buses without valid permits to operate in State

Team Herald

PANJIM: The tourist taxis and tourist bus operators have accused the organisers of the Indian Super League (ISL) of hiring buses without valid permits to operate in the State. 

In a letter to Director General of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena, one of the biggest operators of tourist taxis and tourist buses in Goa Darryl Nunes has alleged illegalities by the ISL organisers. 

The Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) is said to be working closely with the Sports Authority of Goa, Goa Football Association and the State administration to ensure a safe and secure season. 

The letter states that the FSDL recently concluded a recce of the available infrastructure in the State and chalked out an extensive plan to undertake upgradation from pitch and drainage refurbishment/maintenance, floodlights and competition area uplift including players’ dressing rooms at each of the three stadiums. 

It is further understood that the FSDL wishes to provide an individual training pitch to each of the clubs and 10 such training pitches have been identified in the State, which will see upgrades over the next month before handing it over to the respective clubs.

"But in all this delightful scenario we the tourist bus operators and also as tourist taxi operators have been left unheard of and the reason for us to put forth the said grievance is because the organisers for the said event have hired fleet of tourist buses as well as tourist taxis from north India which are seen parked at various venues in Goa and thereby having denied business to the local operators,” Nunes said.

"In fact, we on behalf of all the operators even approached the organisers with our request to hire our services and we also gave an assurance to the extent that we shall abide by all the rules and/or procedures as framed by the organisers but there was no consideration being given to us," he added.

The letter points out that the buses in question have travelled from various destinations in north India to Goa without having a valid permit to enter the State.