PANAJI
MLAs Michael Lobo, Kedar Naik, and Delilah Lobo on Thursday met Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar and expressed complete disappointment in the manner in which tourists are harassed by traffic police.
The MLAs alleged that the tourists on rent-a-bikes are frequently stopped by traffic police despite having valid documents, leading to unnecessary delays and negative experiences.
Lobo highlighted that such actions are damaging Goa’s reputation as a tourist destination. He suggested that responsibility for proper documentation should fall on rent-a-bike owners, not on the tourists.
Lobo also shared instances where tourists faced multiple checks in a single day, causing inconvenience.
The DGP has assured that measures will be taken to prevent such harassment, including instructing traffic police to cease unnecessary stops.
In addition, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik revealed that the DGP proposed implementing a QR code system to streamline checks. This technology would ensure that once a tourist’s documents are verified, they would not be stopped again on the same day.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo welcomed this initiative, noting its potential to improve the tourism experience. “The current behaviour is affecting tourism inflow, particularly among international visitors, and the importance of domestic tourists to the industry,” she said.
