Main Means Of Transport :
Rail, Road, Water
Local Transport : Motorcycle Taxis , Ferries
Before independence, the many rivers that drain across Goa made getting around a problem.
Nowadays, however, thanks to a network of road bridges, life is a lot easier.
For tourists, white Maruti Van Taxis serve as the main means of travelling between
resorts. One will find them lined up outside most charter hotels, where a board invariably
to destinations in and around the region. The fixed rate fares only apply to peak season,
however, and at other times one should be able to negotiate a hefty reduction.
AIR:
Dabolim Airport, 30-km from the state capital Panaji, has coach services operating to and
from the airport. All the major hotels also arrange transport for the guests. A prepaid
taxi service is also available over here. All the major airline services have daily
flights to Goa from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and twice a week from Chennai and
Kochi. The International Service of airlines also connects Goa with Kuwait and Sharjah
twice a week.
RAIL:
The Konkan Railway makes Goa easily accessible by rail from cities such as Delhi,
Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mangalore, Ernakulam and Thiruvanantapuram. The daily New Delhi
(Nizamuddin) to Vasco-da-Gama Goa Express has been resumed. Goa is also linked to
Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune via Londa.
ROAD:
The Goan Transport Corporation, Kadamba, runs long-distance services throughout the state
from their main stand at Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and destinations in the adjoining states
of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Private buses, serving everywhere else including the coastal
resorts, are affordable, frequent, and more relaxed than many in India.
BY FERRY:
If auto-rickshaws are the quaint essentially Indian mode of transport,
flat-bottomed ferries are their Goan equivalent. Crammed with cars, buses, commuters on
scoters, fisherwomen and clumps of bewildered tourists, these rusting blue-painted hulks
provide an essential service, crossing the coastal backwaters where bridges have not yet
been built. They're also incredibly reasonable, and run from the crack of dawn until late
in the evening.
The most frequented river crossings in Goa are Panjim to Betim, across the Mandovi; Old
Goa to Divar Island; Siolim to Chopdem, across the Terakol River; and Cavelossim in the
far south of Salcete Taluka, to Assolna.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
By Motorcycle Taxi
Goa's unique pillion-passenger motorcycle taxis, known locally as "pilots", are
ideal for nipping between beaches or into town from the resorts. Bona fide operators ride
black bikes with yellow mudguards and white number plates. Fares, which should be settled
in advance, are comparable with auto-rickshaw rates.
By Rented Motorcycle
Renting motorcycle in goa gives a lot of freedom. Officially, one needs an international
driver's licence to rent, and ride, anything more powerful than a 25cc moped. Rates vary
according to the season, the vehicle, and how long one wants to rent it for most owners
also insist on a deposit and passport as security. The range is pretty standard and the
reasonable choice is a 50 cc moped. These are fine for buzzing to the beach and back, but
to travel further try the stalwart Enfield Bullet 350cc, popular mainly for its pose
value; the smaller but more reliable Honda Kinetic 100 cc, which has automatic gears and
is a good first-time choice or the best all rounder, the Yamaha RD 100 cc; light, fast
enough, reliable, economical and with annual gears.
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