Transport dept: Local bidders were averse to 24×7 duty
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Though taxi associations raised a hue and cry over losing prospective business during the Lusofonia Games, since vehicles are hired from Maharashtra, the Transport Department has clarified that local bidders refused to accept the e-tender conditions that included 24×7 duty hours.
The Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT) along with North Goa Taxi Drivers and Owners Association, North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association and Federation of Taxi Drivers and Owners from South Goa on Monday held a joint press conference condemning government move of hiring vehicles from Maharashtra for the games.
The taxi operators suspect corruption in the contract awarded to Mumbai-based Geetee Travels Pvt Ltd for providing nearly 450 vehicles and 80 buses for the games.
Clarifying on the same, Transport Director Arun Desai said that the entire e-tendering process was transparent.
He said that the tenders were open for all and to ensure that locals get the benefit tenders were invited from parties who had 25 cars or 10 buses. “In Goa there are nearly four agents who own over 25 cars,” he said.
Desai pointed out that along with Geetee Travels Pvt Ltd, there were two local agents who had bid for the tender.
Refusing to name the contractor (agent), the Director of Transport said that during the pre-bid meeting, both refused to accept conditions like 24×7 duty hours and to keep their vehicles in government possession till January 29 when the Games are set to conclude.
Director stated that
the Maharashtra contractor has hired nearly 50 tourist vehicles from Goa, which is in contradiction to the taxi operators claim that not a single local taxi is on Lusofonia duty.
Earlier, while addressing a press conference, the taxi operators said that they are left with no business during the games.
“Hotels are fully booked for the Lusofonia delegates with no business at all for the local taxi operators. Government has been biased against the local operators,” NGTTOA general secretary Vinay Nanoskar said. The association did not apply for the e-tender floated by the transport department considering that local taxi operators would be taken into confidence.
“In future, we want government to take us into confidence when it comes to big events,” he said.
CRT convenor Fr Maverick Fernandes said that
the government ought to be aware of its obligations
to the local service providers. “Government should be reminded that the ultimate beneficiaries of big events and tourism
in Goa should be the host communities and stakeholders and not outside entities,” he stated.
