PANJIM: The residents of Azossim, Mandur, Neura and surrounding areas are facing lot of hardships due to lack of public bus service in these villages.
The private bus operators who were operating their buses have stopped completely or reduced the trips since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The people of these villages have been demanding that number of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) buses plying on these routes should be increased. Limited number of buses operates in the morning and evening hours, but there are no buses late evening hours thereby causing great inconvenience to the people travelling from Panjim, Old Goa and Pilar areas.
In Mandur, there is a rural health care centre where many health workers use the public transport. Also there are four primary schools and two high schools in Mandur and Neura, and students and staff working in these educational institutions also face difficulties due to limited number of buses.
Azossim–Mandur Sarpanch Ajit Bacal said that these villages were in proximity of Panjim and many office-goers and other villagers go to the capital city, Verna industrial Estate via Pilar and Corlim and at the Kundaim Industrial Estate via Old Goa for work.
Bacal informed Herald that in 2017 the village panchayat had submitted a memorandum signed by the villagers to the KTCL demanding starting of a mini bus service in the village at odd timings.
Azossim, Mandur & Neura locals want KTCL to increase trips
