MOPA: Even as the grand welcome accompanied by frenzied musical activity, added to a song and dance begging of commercial operations at Manohar International Airport (MIA), there wasn’t much to sing home about when many of them emerged out to the ground reality of no net connectivity to download apps followed by no availability of cabs.
The packaging of the first arrivals was undoubtedly beautiful and the welcome reflected the warmth of Goan hospitality. But few were prepared for- after the initial lot- for the long wait for taxis and before that, the difficulty in downloading the app which would book the taxis.
Many tourists waited for half-an-hour or more for the taxi app to get downloaded in order to book them.
Team Herald was on ground zero and witnessed passengers including elderly women complain of long waits for cabs and lack of Wi-Fi connectivity to download the app. Incidentally there were no pre-paid cab counters available, as against the umpteen promised made.
The app of Goa Taxi was complete disaster as a result the staff had to take a direct counter booking for the taxis. People had to wait in queue to get their taxi booked. Also, number of passengers got stranded as soon after two flights, the taxis under Goa Taxi were full for booking.
As the taxis were not available after two hours, several passengers had to take the Kadamba bus.
Meanwhile, some of those who managed to download the app had a two-hour wait for the cab. A passenger who was waiting for almost half-an-hour said, “I got the app downloaded but there are no cabs to book. But is scheduled after 2 hours so I am just waiting for cab to arrive.”
“There is a shortage of staff due to which I am unable to book ticket. I am waiting here from last 15 minutes and I didn’t know how much longer. Inside the airport it was fun but outside there are no taxis,” a young lady who arrived from Mumbai said.
“Taxis are not available, but we are trying to get one,” a senior lady tourist said. She wanted to get to Arambol, but had not managed to download the app.
Airport staff mistook tourists to be taxi drivers and asked them to “get out”
Four passengers arrived from Hyderabad flight wanted to book taxi of Goa Miles however when they found it difficult to download the app they asked an airport staff available near the exit for help. The airport staff mistook the tourists to be taxi drivers and asked them to “get out”. “We had only asked him to help us to book taxis but he started talking rudely and asked us to leave from there. This is not the way they are supposed to talk. He could have directly told us that he cannot help,” a group of four tourists said.
A team from Kadamba Transport Corporation had also put up their banner with fare charges as per location.
The Kadamba transport buses received a good response as in first half almost all the 10 buses had left to their respective destinations with almost 200 passengers. The waiting time for Kadamba buses was 30 to 45 minutes.
There were 8 Electric buses while 2 AC Volvos while four buses were on standby. Most of the people who had travelled solo preferred travelling in the KTC buses in the absence of cabs.
Therefore, while the new MIA did add a feather to its cap with the first arrivals, the passengers encountered several thorns of inconvenience souring their experience of being the first passenger to land here.
