AAI shoots down tourism ministry's taxi plans

The tourism ministry's proposal to start satellite-monitored taxi services has been rejected by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on the grounds that the government should stay off such commercial activities at airports.

The tourism ministry had sought permission from the airport authority to start taxi services at key airports in the country.

According to the ministry, public sector undertakings like India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) could have started such operations. The proposal also entailed these taxies being monitored by satellites to ensure the safety of tourists.

However, AAI said as the government was a regulator of taxi services at the airport, it could not be a player too.

The tourism ministry's proposal came in the wake of several incidents of theft and murder involving taxis operating out of airports.

Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury has also written to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to allow domestic private carriers to fly to the Gulf.

The civil aviation ministry is ready to allow private carriers to fly to most international destinations except the Gulf region, to protect the business interests of the state-run carriers, Indian Airlines and Air-India. International flights to the Gulf are one of the most profit-making operations for the state-owned carriers.

According to Chowdhury's letter, while the government is permitting more Gulf carriers to operate in India, it is not allowing Indian carriers to fly to the Gulf.

Private Indian carriers have been pressing the government for permission to fly more international routes, including the Gulf.

The ministry is planning to train taxi operators as part of its efforts to make the country more tourist-friendly.

The department of tourism and ITDC are conducting special training programmes for all those employed in the travel trade.

Thus, the training is not going to be limited to taxi drivers. Immigration officials, security personnel and travel agents will also be trained.

Tourist taxi operators will be trained in language skills to deal with tourists as well as maintain a roadworthy vehicle.

At the end of the training, participants will be given a certificate, which they are expected to display. Besides, the certificates will also be subject to periodic checks to ensure that the standards are maintained.