PANJIM, NOV 18
Reiterating their stand for all Goa bandh on Monday, the private bus operators today said that none of their demands placed before the authorities have been passed which has forced them to take extreme decision.
All Goa Private Bus Operators’ Association General Secretary Sudip Tamankar told reporters today that they had submitted volley of grievances to the transport director during their meeting last month. But none of them have been fulfilled.
He said that the meeting was held to address their grievance of harassment being meted out by Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL).
“We had listed our problems in the form of memorandum, which was submitted to the department. The issue like maintenance of bus stands across the state was also put before them and accordingly, Transport Director had directed KTC to work towards its development,” Tamankar said adding that most of the bus stands in the state are in shabby conditions.
The private bus operators last Sunday had called for day long bandh on November 22 protesting against government’s action of not allowing them on Margao’s old bus stand.
The press conference called at Panjim bus stand pointed out pot-hole ridden bus stand, which is causing inconvenience to the bus operators and life has become difficult to them.
The bus operators claimed that KTCL has continued harassing the private bus operators in some or other way.
HERALD IMPACT: Tamankar said that recently launched software by National Informatics Centre (NIC) to issue smart card licences and vehicle registration books has developed snag.
“They have stopped renewing licences. Even for the fresh licences people have to struggle,” he said referring to Sarathi software launched by Transport Department on October 22 in their RTO office at Panjim on pilot bases.
While Vahan software after its soft launch at Panjim office is now extended to all the RTO offices, the Sarathi software is going through gruelling phase.
Tamankar said that the state government is forcing the people to violate rules. “If licence is not renewed than the licence holder will naturally go around with expired licecne,” he explained.
Herald had reported on November 18 that since the implementation of NIC software, the department has not issued a single smart card to the public with more then 200 cases pending.
The NIC official in his reply had said that these are teething problems, which will be stabilized after few months.
