TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has begun the process for empanelment of agencies interested in providing women taxi services under the Corporation’s novel plan for Goa.
Chairman of the Corporation Nilesh Cabral said that the Corporation intends starting the services at the earliest and has invited tenders from parties interested in providing taxis and radio taxi services for women and family travellers.
“Even Goan taxi owners who have vehicles of various specifications as enlisted by the GTDC could provide their vehicles,” Cabral said.
Initially, the Corporation intends launching the service with at least 10 to 15 vehicles and training is on for women drivers on safety, self protection and to act as tourist guides for their passengers.
“The entire service will be controlled by the GTDC in collaboration with Green Earth Translogistics Pvt Ltd and would work on the line of radio taxis for transporting only women and their families,” Cabral said.
“Let us see what response we get for the tenders we have floated,” said the GTDC chairman. According to the tenders floated two days ago, the last date for submission of applications is February 28 and bids would be opened on March 20.
The Corporation plans to start the radio taxi services by women for women in Panjim city and three towns – Margao, Vasco and Mapusa.
While Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore have women-driven taxis, Goa would be the first tourist State to introduce this facility for tourists as well as women in Goa.
