CALANGUTE: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured tourism stakeholders that the State government would not allow Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) to go ahead with its proposal to start rent-a-bike services in the State.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Sawant said he’s had already spoken to the KRC Managing Director (MD) about the issue. “We don’t want to promote more rent-a-bikes in the State as there are too many bikes and too many accidents involving tourists using such bikes. The Goa government will not allow the KRC to start this service. The KRC MD has informed me that the tender has not been closed. I’m meeting him on Monday after which the State government may issue a notification about this,” he said.
AGTSA president John Lobo said the CM has assured that the KRC will not start rent-a-bikes. “He said it would be better that no new rental bikes are started in future because there are a lot of accidents involving tourists,” Lobo said.
Lobo said the KRC’s plans to operate 500 bikes at five railway stations in Goa would have destroyed the livelihood of a large number of locals.
All-Goa Private Bus Owners Association general secretary Sudip Tamhankar said regarding the notification issued by the Centre which deals with the introduction of EV vehicles in the transport sector bypassing all the local authorities, the CM has said he would take up the issue when he visits Delhi soon. “We have full faith in the CM’s assurance,” he said.
Local tourism stakeholders from across the state decided to join hands to oppose the move by the KRC to start rent-a-bike services and to meet the CM to convey their demand.
