TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: There has been growing friction between the Dudhsagar tour operators and tourist taxi operators over the prolonged delay in transporting tourists to the famed Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Tourist taxi operators have expressed displeasure as tourists who go to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls are forced to wait for hours, due to shortage of vehicles to ply the tourists from Collem to the waterfalls and back.
According to information, the state government had issued permits to about 98 tour operators to ply vehicles along the 14-km rough path between Collem and the Dudhsagar waterfall. Over the years, the growing popularity of the Dudhsagar waterfalls has led to a surge in tourists and an estimated 1000 tourists visit the waterfalls on a daily basis.
“I had brought foreign tourists to Collem. But since there are few tour operators plying between Collem and Dudhsagar waterfalls, tourists are forced to wait for hours. To make matters worse, there is no proper seating arrangement for the tourists, while they await their turn to go to the waterfalls. There is no proper infrastructure here,” complained North Goa Taxi Owners Association member Bappa Korgaonkar.
The tourist taxi operators have demanded that the State government should increase the number of taxis, to avoid causing undue delay to the tourists.
“We don’t have any objection if the government increases the number of taxis to ply along the Collem-Dudhsagar route, provided proper infrastructure is set in place. The government must extend the visiting time to Dudhsagar waterfall from 7 am to 4 pm, instead of 8 am to 3 pm. Authorities have also reduced the number of passenger from 7 to 6 per vehicle and this should be changed,” said Naresh Shigaonkar, secretary of the Dudhsagar Tour Operator Association.
Korgaonkar also alleged that they along with the tourists were being ill-treated by the Dudhsagar tour operators.
“There is always some friction between us and the Dudhsagar tour operators over the delay in taking guests to the waterfalls. There is no proper seating arrangement for the guests and they are charged a whopping Rs 50 to use the toilet,” claimed Korgaonkar.
However, the Dudhsagar Tour Operator Association has denied the charges.
“It is wrong to say that we treat guests or taxi drivers in a bad manner. With no proper place, it is difficult to construct a shade. However, we managed to build one shade but it is not enough. Regarding the toilet fees, guests are charged as per the rates fixed (Rs 2 to 5) depending on the usage and not Rs 50 as claimed,” said Shigaonkar.
