Tourists coming down to Goa on vacation always had grievances about getting fleeced from the local taxi drivers especially while traveling from the Goa Airport to Panaji and Calangute. In its attempt to give some breather to to tourists and well locals coming to Goa by air, the Tourism Department in association with the KTCL (Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited) has launched the Luxury Volvo Bus Service from Dabolim Airport to Calangute via Panaji which will charge just a fraction of the amount a regular taxi drivers charge to the tourists or locals, said the sources.
The launch of the new luxury bus service from Dabolim to Calangute via Panaji will give a big relief to the Goans as well tourists coming to Goa by air as the bus trip will only cost them about Rs. 150 from Dabolim Airport to the Calangute while the tourists’ taxi drivers charge exorbitant amount anywhere from 2500 to 3000 rupees for the same trip, said the sources. The locals, as well as tourists, would always be complained about the charges applied by the taxi drivers which is more than the cost of airfare from Mumbai to Goa.
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This news may come as a shocker to some of the local taxi drivers and operators since they might get the big dent in their business but this bold step taken by the Tourism Department of Goa along with the Vasco MLA and KTCL Chairman Carlos Almeida will be appreciated by the local Goans and tourists alike, said the sources.
The KTCL has deployed the luxurious Volvo Bus Service which will ply from Goa Airport to Calangute via Panaji and back. Initially, only two trips will be started in a day with the single bus shuttling on this route and subsequently the number of buses will be increased with more trips depending on the demand, said the sources.
The press note released by the PR agency of GTDC claimed that Congestion outside the Goa airport and tourist taxi woes at Dabolim will now be sorted out with the operation of luxury Volvo A/C shuttle bus service from Airport to Calangute via Panjim and vice versa. The service was flagged off at the hands of Vasco, MLA and Chairman, KTCL, Mr. Carlos Almeida and Goa Airport Director, Mr. B.C.H. Negi along with other officials. This initiative was worked out for the convenience of tourists wishing to travel to North Goa. The public transport facility will be available to and fro from the airport at Dabolim to Calangute via Panjim and vice versa, said the sources.
The press note stated that total 21 passengers took the advantage of the inaugural ride from Airport to Calangute at the launch day today. The sources further said that the ticket charges of the trip will be very nominal. The bus will charge only Rs. 150 from Airport to Calangute and Rs. 100 if someone wants to travel only up to Panaji. The bus will also pick up the passengers from Calangute and Panaji on its return journey said the sources.
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According to the sources, Goa Tourism Development Corporation will assist in the bookings and will also put additional counters for more paid taxis and the same will be finalized in a week. KTCL looks forward to introducing two trips per day on regular basis. This was initiated especially to ease long queues in front of taxi counters at the airport.
SOURCE: GTDC PRESS NOTE
IMAGE SOURCE: GTDC PR AGENCY
