Will Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s assurance to Ponda transporters of establishing a transportation hub within six months, if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is voted to power become a reality?
It may be recalled that two decades ago, truck drivers transporting industrial goods and raw material would park their vehicles in Ponda town and at Tisk-Ponda. But with the construction of three bypasses along the Curti-Borim, Curti-Ponda and Farmagudi-Dhavali routes, these drivers have made these bypasses their ‘permanent parking lot’.
Heavy traffic along the route to the taluka’s three major industrial estates and limited parking facilities have forced many truck drivers to park their vehicles along these major bypasses in Ponda, thereby posing a major threat to motorists plying along these routes.
Many accidents have occurred as these trucks obstructed the view of the oncoming vehicles and besides these drivers cook food and defecate in the open.
They claim that in the absence of a truck terminus, they have no option but to find any available open space to park their vehicles.
The demand for a full-fledged truck terminus has been going on for nearly two decades.
Aware that inter-state trucks have no parking facilities in Ponda, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) recently passed a resolution to set up a truck terminus project at Bethora by acquiring around 2 lakh square metres.
Elaborating on the project, PMC councillor Venktesh Naik said, “Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza had advised the municipality to go ahead with the proposed truck terminus. The terminus will also generate revenue to PMC, besides providing employment to local youth by engaging their rickshaws to transport goods to and from the truck terminus.”
During his visit to Ponda on Wednesday Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said, “In Delhi, transporters’ problems are solved by the government as it knows the importance of transporters in the growth of industries, economy and employment and that they are not burdened with taxes.”
He was surprised over the fact that despite the pending demand of transporters for a transportation hub, the government has not yet established the same, which is must for industries to flourish.
Commenting on the transporters’ demand, he said, “In the absence of a transportation hub, police collect hafta from goods transporters and truck drivers. They give haftas to the police but recover the same from the consumers.”
“So we want to put end to these haftas, corruption and the woes of these truck drivers who have to wait for several hours on road during police checkups,” he added.
Firoj Khan, president of Ponda Goods Transporters’ Association said, “Since last 27 years we have been demanding a transportation hub but the Government has ignored our demands. We are facing hardship in transporting goods in the State. Goa may be only first state without a transport hub. Transport is the lifeline of the economy and industry. It is sad to note that there is no transportation hub.”
Khan said, “Truck drivers coming in Goa face a lot of hardship and park their vehicles on the roadside and suffer due to lack of basic facilities. We hope the AAP will solve our problems if voted to power.”
PMC Councillor Venktesh Naik said, “I am aware of the problems faced by the transporters in Ponda. With PMC’s cooperation, I had passed a resolution long ago to provide transport hub where parking, transporters’ offices, accommodation for truck drivers, cleaners and hospitals would be provided. Since land acquisition process being complicated, it is a bit delayed but at the same time progressing.”
“As per the land acquisition, around 2 lakh square metres have been proposed to which the land owner has agreed. Even the deputy chief minister has supported the proposal, which is in its final stage now. The absence of truck terminus has forced the drivers to park their trucks on the roads. PMC resolves to set up truck terminus project at Bethora by acquiring land,” he informed.
He said, “The demand for a full-fledged truck terminus has been going on for nearly two decades.”
