TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Securitas the international security services conglomerate has bid in the global tendering process for Goa’s lifeguard services along with Drishti Special Response Services.
Securitas through its Indian subsidiary Walsons Services Pvt Ltd has bid in a consortium with Express Global Logistics whose headquarters are located in Mumbai.
Securitas employs over three lakh persons in 52 countries and this multinational is a strong contender in the race for the selection of a new agency to provide Goa with a water and beach safety management plan.
Though Drishti seems better poised due to its successfully completed five year contract with Goa government for providing lifeguard services, Pradeep Mehra, managing director of Securitas is confident of winning the contract.
“Our international experience of handling emergency services on a large scale will make us very competitive,” says Mehra.
Both Securitas and Drishti Special Response Services were the only two agencies which participated in the bidding process even though six agencies had shown interest online.
The two agencies made impressive presentations before a technical committee appointed for evaluating the exercise. A source told Herald that Drishti still has an edge in the bidding process.
The financial bids are yet to be opened and Tourism Ministry level officials said that a date would be fixed soon to further the tendering process. “It is an extensive and elaborate process and would need some time before everything is completed and finalised,” said a ministry official.
In view of this the government the extended the existing contract of Drishti till July 2013, before which it hopes to complete the process for selecting an agency and putting systems in place for the new tourism season.
Presently Goa is promoting monsoon tourism throughout the country but has also cautioned tourists not to venture into the sea.
The India Reserve Battalion (IRB) has also been directed to keep a close watch on visitors to the beach and restrain them from venturing into the water.
