Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that he would speak with the managing director of the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) shortly regarding the matter relating to the KRC tender for rent-a-bike services at its various stations, including Goa.
“He has a Monday appointment with me,” Sawant stated. According to him, the state already has an adequate supply of rent-a-bikes.
He mentioned that there are currently problems with rent-a-bike companies and said, “We’ll discuss the issue jointly and take an appropriate decision.”
Sawant asserted that the state govt does not wish to promote more rent-a-bikes as there is saturation of such bikes and some are also involved in accidents.
When asked if the Konkan Railway Corporation tender would be withdrawn, the chief minister replied that a decision would only be made following a meeting with the managing director of the company.
The KRC’s invitation to one contractor to provide car rentals at different Konkan, Goa, and Karnataka railway stations has drawn a lot of criticism.
Sawant made the remarks in response to a visit from a delegation of the All Goa Tourism Stakeholders Association, which urged him to abandon the plan.
A delegation of taxi operators met CM Sawant seeking scrapping of the tender. As per the tender, Rent-a-Bike services are to be operated at Madgaon, Karwar, Canacona, Thivim, Karmali in Goa and Gokarna Road and Kumta Railway Station in Karnataka through a single contract for all seven stations.
The successful bidder will be allowed to operate Rent-a-bike services in the area of 300 Square feet each at of the 7 Railway stations, states the tender.
