In spite of having a huge well-designed bus stand and a bus bay at Cuncolim Market, indisciplined, errant and haughty bus drivers continue to stop their buses in the middle of road and at congested market place to take in more passengers, much to the dismay of motorists, who are forced to raise a din and add to the confusion.
This unchecked behaviour of bus drivers around Cuncolim market area has been the cause of several traffic congestion, which has resulted in several minor and sometimes major accidents.
During peak hours, especially during holidays and Sundays one can see a huge trail of vehicles on the road behind many a stationary bus.
Some years ago, the RTO had issued stern instructions to public bus drivers not to stop buses near Kenim Pharmacy and also near the CMC hall at the market.
Interestingly, the Council bus stand is just five hundred meters away from market. Sometimes commuters too are to be blamed, as they do not want to walk and request buses to stop at market, which consequently results in traffic congestion.
In spite of written orders from RTO officers not to halt near the market place, all private as well as KTC buses stop at the pharmacy and also near the petrol pump.
WOW department had constructed a bus bay near the CMC hall at Cuncolim market to avoid traffic congestion. And ironically, right from the inauguration day of the bus bay it has been hardly used by bus drivers.
Moreover, the bus bay which was constructed to ease traffic flow is now been used by sand trucks for parking purpose. Ex-MLA Rajan Naik had proposed a traffic island near the bus bay, near the parking complex. This project had been tendered and even the work order was given but the contractor failed to start the work on the traffic island and road- widening at Cuncolim market.
During school hours it’s a regular picture of traffic congestion. Buses halt on both sides at the pharmacy and also at CMC hall and the other side near the petrol pump. To add to this, there is also unauthorised heavy vehicle parking at CMC hall and also near the petrol pump.
Also, people who come to the market to make purchases carelessly park their vehicles on the Cuncolim-Quepem Road which also becomes another reason for traffic congestion.
Due to the narrow road and unauthorised vehicle parking the Cuncolim market junction has turned into a death trap. The local municipal authority has provided a huge parking complex near CMC hall but this has been hardly utilised to park light private vehicles. Besides, the parking complex has been misused by some bus and truck owners, who park their vehicles for a long period of time. In fact, for some time now it has become a permanent parking place for some trucks and buses.
The non-usage of the bus stand is another major problem. Some Canacona to Margao buses and Margao to Canacona buses do not even enter the bus stand and stop on road itself to take in passengers.
People have been venting their anger against the authorities who have failed to take action against the errant bus drivers, who are quick to abuse anybody who dares question why they stop in the middle of the road and cause traffic congestion. Will the local self-governing body, along with RTO authorities find a solution to the never-ending traffic problem, is the question Cuncolkars have been asking for some time now.
