TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: 189 bus stops will be notified in Panjim by next week, in a bid to infuse discipline among bus operators and a stiff fine of upto Rs 2000 will be imposed on those who fail to stop at the identified stops, transport department officials said.
Director Transport Arun Desai said that department has completed the process of identifying the bus bays and bus stops for Panjim and these would be notified by next week. Director said the notification will put restriction on those private buses, which stop anywhere.
Desai admitted that in the absence of identified bus stops, department was not in a position to challan the buses for violating the bus permit conditions.
“Now with identification of bus stops, we can challan the violators (with a fine of ) up to Rs 2000 as per MV Act,” he said.
Desai said that a similar exercise has also been conducted along Panjim-Margao and Margao-Vasco routes.
However, certain objections are been raised by district magistrate, which need to be sorted out before notifying the bus stops.
When asked, Director said that special training session has been conducted for drivers and conductors to educate them on various rules of MV Act.
He said that so far six sessions have been conducted, wherein the drivers and conductors were educated on sexual harassment, MV Act, inter-personal skill and health and safety of workers and commuters.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Transport said that they has decided to place before Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar the bus owners’ demand for a hike in bus subsidy from the existing 25 percent to 35 percent of the total cost of the bus.
The decision came following Chief Minister’s directives, who based on a memorandum submitted by private bus owners association, asked transport department to prepare a detail report and put it up for consideration before him.
“Currently we are offering Rs 3 lakh, which they want to increase to Rs 5 lakh,” he said. The association has also demand to increase the bus-life span for replacement from 15 years to 18 years.
Further, the bus owners have also sought relaxation for purchase of 31 seater buses instead of the 37-seater ones.
