PONDA: After enduring a year-long delay in the completion of the KTC Bus Stand roofing, commuters in Ponda can finally find shelter during the rain.
The completion of the roofing comes after local residents set a ten-day deadline and staged protests, prompting action from the authorities. The efforts of Viraj Sapre, a prominent social worker, and the continuous coverage by O Heraldo in highlighting the poor condition of the bus stand were acknowledged and appreciated by commuters.
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Last year, the government had declared the KTC Bus Stand shed unsafe for passengers and initiated repair work costing Rs one crore. However, the project suffered a significant delay, leaving commuters exposed to the elements for over a year. With the onset of the monsoon, the Ponda residents realised that they would once again be subjected to rain while waiting for buses, prompting them to raise their voices in protest.
On June 1, prominent Ponda residents, including Durgadas Kamat and activists Viraj Sapre and Pramod Sawant, staged a protest against the prolonged renovation work at the KTC Bus Stand. They criticized the government for neglecting the completion of the project, which had been in a pathetic condition for the past year.
Viraj Sapre urged the government to promptly finish the pending work, including the installation of floor tiles, toilets near the shed, and signboards.
