It is observed that the connectivity of buses from Panjim to Santo Estevam, especially Cupa Ward is not streamlined as the common man particularly the senior citizens, students and working class are subjected to hardships. Also the bus owners cite that there are no passengers to cater to and hence they conveniently skip their route by not observing their set timings given by the RTO.
Sometimes even late in the evening people are left stranded with no means of transport. Here the RTO should step in to provide relief to the affected passengers. Some suggestions from my end for the RTO to implement are:
1. As Central government has provided electric buses to KTC it would be prudent enough to ply these buses on such routes where private bus operators are reluctant to operate.
2. As the newly inaugurated bus stand at Marcel could be used as a control system to monitor the incoming and outgoing of buses from Panjim to Santo Estevam and vice versa.
3. The sign boards which are put up on the Marcel bus stand should also mention the destination and the timing when the buses ply, so that the RTO stationed in Marcel can monitor the bus movements and take corrective action. Similar sign boards could be put up at every bus stand; including the main bus stands across Goa and by doing so have a check on the irregularities.
4. It would be in the fitness of things to revoke the permits of the bus owners who refuse to ply their approved routes and replace them with Kadamba services.
5. Considering the grievances of the private bus owners the Government of Goa should absorb them on Government Buses based on a PPP model. And regulate them by providing benefits such as ESIC, Group Insurance and set minimal wages for drivers and conductors.
6. Old buses need to be changed to provide better seating facility and to avoid air pollution. It is observed that buses more than 15-20 years are still plying on Goan roads emitting toxic smoke. It is high time that the RTO should introspect on their inspection procedures. This can be combated by introducing a bus exchange scheme for private bus owners.
I hope some of the changes suggested by me are implemented by the Government of Goa which would bring about a paradigm shift in the approach of the bus owners and solve the issue of commuters for good.
