Hundreds of people from Baina, Vasco and even others who have been using city buses to and from Baina, are forced to walk long distance to reach their home because the erratic private bus operators conveniently refuse to follow the route allotted to them.
According to the residents, there are about 16 city buses operating on Vasco-Baina and vice-versa route and about 8000 odd residents, including 2000 students using city bus service to and from Vasco on daily basis. However, since last few months majority of these city bus have started a new practice of not following the route system, leaving all these residents to face severe hardships. Surprisingly on several occasions the residents and their leaders lodged complaints before the office of Regional Transport Office (RTO) Vasco about the irregularity and against errant bus drivers and conductors for not following the route. But the RTO officials have turned a blind eye towards the issue and route irregularity continues even till date.
“It is a known fact that Baina area is home for majority of poor and middle class people, thus 60 to 70 per cent of the residents from Baina are dependent on the bus service to visit market or to go to their workplace, schools and return home. Sadly whenever passengers try to question these bus operators for not following the route during the return journey to Baina, bus operators try to confront the passengers and this verbal fight and chaos inside the bus has become a daily routine” said Christine Coelho, former MMC chairperson and Baina resident.
Herald investigation revealed that the RTO office Vasco has allotted specific route to these city bus operators having their operations on Baina-Vasco and vice versa route. As per RTO, all the city buses operating on Baina-Vasco route have to ply via Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Chowgule house, C Building. However, while picking up the passengers from Baina these city buses follow a route, move very slow in a bid to collect more passengers but during the return trip to Baina these buses not only move very fast but take all possible shortcuts and directly proceed towards the last bus stop from C building thereby skipping Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Chowgule house route.
“Even though the passengers are charged for the full fair, due to their short cut route illegal practice, bus operators force passengers to get down half way as per their convenience and not as per the convenience of the passengers due to which passengers have to walk long distance to return home. Now it so happens that to cut down on the cost of diesel and to make up for their time, these bus operators directly proceed towards the last bus stop from C building and despite of complaints to the RTO, the concerned officials have failed to take cognisance of it, reasons best known to them,” said MMC Councillor Saifullah Khan.
Another Baina resident John D’ Silva said that he had requested the RTO officials to take cognisance about the issue 10 days ago. However, despite assurance by RTO officials no action was initiated against erring bus operators who have been forcing hundreds of people from Baina to face undue hardships every day.
“Though I had personally reported the matter to RTO officials but no action was initiated. Also what one cannot understand is that the RTO has given permits to 16 buses for a small route of 3 to 4 kms and sometimes to make up for the timing the drivers drive the bus in rash and negligent manner due to which in past two minors had to lose their lives. Several complaints to RTO office have fallen on deaf ears and there is no guarantee whether the problem would be solved or not even in future” he said.
Meanwhile when Herald reported the matter to the Deputy Collector Mormugao Mahadev Arondekar, he assured to look into the matter and resolve the issue permanently. “This is serious issue and soon after Ganesh festival I will call for a joint meeting with RTO and directions will be issued to ensure that bus operators strictly follow the route,” he said.
