TEAM HERALD
BELGAUM/CALANGUTE: The onset of Goa’s tourism season has attracted attention of neighbouring States and Karnataka tourism department is now eyeing a share of Goa’s tourism pie.
The Karnataka tourism department along with North West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has decided to start an exclusive tourist bus service between Belgaum and Goa, but the North Goa tourist taxi operators have decried the move as an attempt to deprive them of their livelihood.
The bus service between Belgaum railway station and various tourist destinations in Goa is expected to commence in November, as the decision in this regard was arrived at a meeting of various organisations and senior government officials.
Members of Railway Advisory Committee Satish Tendolkar, member of Citizen Welfare Forum Vikas Kalghatgi and other members urged NWKRTC controller P R Mahajan and other officials from tourism department to immediately commence special bus services to Goa from Belgaum city and railway station for the convenience of commuters from both the destinations.
“Compared to Goa’s proximity to Belgaum, present bus services between Belgaum and Goa are not only inconvenient for people from both the sides, but a specialised bus service that will take tourists from Belgaum to tourist destinations in Goa and bring them back to Belgaum on the same day,” said Satish Tendolkar while making the demand, to which NWKRTC and Tourism Department officials have principally agreed.
“We are interested in serving the tourists from Belgaum and Goa. However, the date of commencing this bus service will be declared at a later date, looking at the availability of buses and staff for it,” stated P R Mahajan.
When asked if the Karnataka tourist buses would hamper the business of Goan tourism stakeholders, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar replied in the negative.
“This will not impact tourism business in Goa and it has been a practice for a very long time,” said Parulekar.
However, the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association (NGTTOA) has strongly opposed the move and feared that the Tourist Bus Service from Belgaum would only further erode the business of Goan taxi operators.
“The State government, especially Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, has been trying to allow cabs and tourist buses from other States to destroy the business of Goan taxi operators. The Women Taxi Service and the proposed tourist bus service from Belgaum is nothing but an indication that the State government does not care for Goa and Goans,” said NGTTOA general secretary Vinayak Nanoskar.
“If the government cares for Goa and Goans, then why are GTDC hotels and other tourist-related facilities lacking in basic infrastructure and are being shut down? Parulekar should first make GTDC hotels people-friendly and improve the services, so that tourists would want to stay in these places,” Nanoskar added.
NGTTOA president Vasudev Arlekar, Ravindra Vengurlekar (vice-president) and other committee members also voiced similar sentiments.
