MARGAO: In a bid to address concerns raised by locals and the opposition to Konkan Railway Corporation Limited’s (KRCL) plans to start a bike and taxi rental service, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that the State government has approached the Union Ministry of Railways to discuss KRCL’s proposed venture and assured to find a solution to ensure local stakeholders operate and benefit from tourism activities and services in Goa.
“I discussed this issue with the Chief Minister. The required action will be taken to ensure that the business of locals is not affected. We have taken it up with the Union Railway Minister and the Konkan Railway CEO,” he said.
Khaunte assured that a solution would be found to ensure local stakeholders operate and benefit from tourism activities and services in Goa.
It may be recalled that local taxi owners, rickshaw drivers, and others dependent on the business from railway stations as well as Opposition MLAs, had alleged that KRCL’s plans to venture into bike and car rentals at all its stations in the State, along with setting up pod hotels at Margao Railway Station, seemed like an attempt to compete with Goa’s thriving tourism sector, particularly in Margao.
Citing concerns over their livelihoods, they had demanded that KRCL cancel these plans, and various protest meetings were also held recently in this regard.
