It happens every time, and then is set aside, only at times to be repeated again, or at times to be entirely forgotten. The latest is the 24×7 bus service in a State where the buses stop plying after 10 pm. Will it happen?
A couple of years ago, at the 37th anniversary celebrations of KTC, the then Transport Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar had said that the government was exploring the possibility of converting the existing bus stands into bus ports. Bus ports, he had explained, would be state-of-the-art terminals that would have facilities like those at airports and would be built with funds from the Centre. It sounded good, but two years later, nothing on this has been heard again. But then the Minister had said that bus ports would take about five years to materialise, so there are still three more years to live in hope of this proposal materialising.
While Goa waits for the bus port project, the Margao bus stand still functions from the temporary shed that had been built for it in the 1980s. Perhaps the transport planners of Goa can get down to the drawing board and design a more suitable bus stand for the South Goa district headquarters, until such time that a permanent structure is built for it.
It isn’t just modernising of the bus stands that Goa needs. The State transport system needs a complete overhaul beginning with the introduction of late night buses, connecting at least the major urban areas with the industrial estates, the tourism centres, the airport and the railway stations. Goa has cleared the employment of women in night shifts, but is there a public transport system that will complement this? KTC has now proposed to start 24×7 bus service, but when actually will this start? Or will it, like the bus ports proposal, remain in the pipeline?
Where the airport is concerned, a passenger landing at Dabolim at any time of the day does not have the choice of a public bus to take him to his destination and is forced to opt for the taxi service. In the absence of public transport at night, tourists are forced to spend exorbitant amounts on taxis and rickshaws or stay indoors at night. This connectivity, in a State that relies on tourism to prop up its economy, is absolutely essential.
But, why can’t government corporations revamp themselves to turn into professional entities run like corporates today? KTC has been taking baby steps in its endeavour – if at all it can be so called – to give itself a new look. For instance, recently the KTC announced its green buses, that is a welcome step. About 150 electrical buses are expected to be introduced soon. But the corporation needs to turn more innovative, and meet new trends if it wants to increase its revenue. The corporation’s most fierce competitors are the private bus operators. If these can run in profits, why is the government corporation – that even has a few nationalised routes – not be able to make a susbstantial profit?
The transport corporation has to therefore step up to the new challenges, while ensuring that the basics of cleanliness, time and efficiency are maintained. It has to strike this balance to become profitable and also compete with the private operators. Considering that Goa’s public transport system is far from reliable, KTC has a great opportunity to turn around its fortunes, by displaying some efficiency. Should it improve its performance, the private operators would also fall in line, so as to remain relevant.
