Calangute, Sep 2 (TOI): There are likely to be chaotic scenes in the tourist hub of Calangute-Candolim with the North Goa tourist taxi owners' association (NGTTOA) deciding to support the transport strike by keeping taxis off the roads.

The North Goa rent-a-cab association too has extended its support to the strike. Private bus owners have also extended their support to the strike.

On the other hand, the travel and tourism association of Goa has decided not to support the strike. There was uncertainty with sources in the hotel industry saying that they would be arranging transport facilities for guests who have already made bookings. Hotels will hire vehicles to ferry guests to and from the airport and railway stations. But that is likely to meet with opposition.

Ravindra Vengurlekar, vice-president of the NGTTOA, said tourists will have to take buses and vehicles to go to the airport etc, before 7am when the strike begins. After that, all taxis and buses will be off the road and anybody venturing to transport tourists is likely to be stopped, he said. Nitesh Chodankar, vice-president of the rent-a-cab union, said they will not rent their four-wheelers to express their solidarity with the taxi union and others.

The strike is in the middle of the week when tourist inflow is generally at its lowest. A large number of tourists have been visiting the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt during the monsoon this year, and there is no longer any off-season for all practical purposes.

The rent-a-bike operators, a large number of whom do not owe their allegiance to any union, are unlikely to participate in the strike. Consequently, they are expected to do roaring business.