MARCOS GONSALVES
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
MARGAO: The Margao Bus Terminus Project is yet to see the light of the day. However, the shortage of funds has forced the government to revisit the previous plan of adopting the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model to construct the bus stand. However, no proper facilities at the bus stand have forced the commuters to undergo hardship.
Opposition Leader and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat claimed that the project could have been completed long ago, if Congress was in power. A decade has passed as Kamat had laid the foundation stone in 2011. On the other hand Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) chairman and Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida admitted to the shortage of funds and hence decided to adopt the PPP model to construct the dream project of the South Goa residents.
The bus stand still functions under a shed installed in the mid-80s. However, the demands of commuters and residents have fallen flat for the past several years.
Reportedly, Kamat had laid the foundation on October 6, 2011 to construct an ultra-modern transport hub at the Margao KTC bus stand. But this project is yet to become a reality.
Kamat said he had asserted that funds would not come in the way of construction of the bus stand but had planned to construct it phase-wise.
“We had promised to tender the project within six months, estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, but the change in guard resulted in the project being kept pending,” he said.
Kamat said the much-needed project has been kept pending for the reasons best known to the government.
“It is unfortunate that this government does not have the time to see the hardship faced by the commuters and residents at the present KTC bus stand. This was one of the projects the government should have constructed using its own funds as there is high scope for generating revenue from the project. It should have been completed in a phase-wise manner if the government is short of funds,” he said.
Digambar said he had already objected to the construction of the project under the PPP model and added that this is not the right decision.
In 2017, when the BJP-led government came to power with the support of the Goa Forward Party, the then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had promised to make the bus stand a reality within two years. The then TCP Minister and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai began consultative planning of conceiving what he termed ‘one of the best bus terminuses of the country’.
As per the plan, the new bus terminus will have 780 buses at one time entry-exit facility with 166 buses parking during the day and 56 at night. A multi-level car parking has been proposed with provision for 1330 cars and 1037 two-wheelers.
Provision for spice market, fish market, fresh produce market, local handicrafts cooperatives mall, brand store, food court, restaurant, gym and shopping plaza has been proposed in the draft.
In addition to that provision has also been made for nearly 134 buses, 52 auto-rickshaws, and 56 taxis.
However, in 2019 dropping the idea of taking up the construction work of a new bus stand in Margao on a PPP basis, the government had decided to take up the project through its own funds, wherein Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had announced this decision.
Sawant had said the work of the remaining phases would be taken up later and added that the bus stand will be built on the existing structure and a revenue model has been worked out by way of leasing out shops under the project.
KTC chairman Carlos Almeida said the Chief Minister is handling the issue. However, it has been decided to construct the modern bus terminus for Margao on PPP model.
“The project has been held up due to the shortage of funds. Yes, earlier the government had decided to go ahead with the project with its own funds but there is a fund crunch. Hence, it has been decided to construct the bus stand on Public-Private-Partnership model,” said Almeida.
However, at the moment no one bothered to look into the matter with regards to hardship faced by commuters and residents at the bus stand, which is in a pathetic condition. No proper facilities for the commuters and for the public have led to the mess at the KTC bus stand, Margao. Lack of system in place has created more troubles for the KTC.
