Local transport in any state or city are the backbone of economic activities and growth. Mobility should be easily available and economical. The intra-state transportation system in Goa comprises local buses and auto rickshaws. Buses run within a city and also connect one city/town with another, are economical with reasonable rates and there is always a need for more buses to have more connectivity with far-flung towns and more frequency.
Auto rickshaws in Goa are rare, available only at selected spots and charge the return fare and hence are unaffordable to common people. The local bus routes and timing both are skeletons in every city. The fact that Goa has the highest per capita vehicle is not because the per capita income of Goan is high but because there is no availability of affordable local transport. Those who cannot afford to buy a vehicle suffer in silence.
Most of the other cities in India have efficient bus services connecting every nook and corner of the city with good frequency. Also, auto-rickshaws ply in large numbers and at reasonable rates and can be booked via an online app. All cities of Goa are keen to have an upgrade of the local transport system which has been running for more than 50 years. While the system was good for quite some time, now with the increase in population and business activities time has come for reform.
Presently the buses running on the intra-city routes are dilapidated as first they are run on interstate routes, then on intra-state routes and then intra-city routes. Most of them, are packed beyond their capacity.
Of course, now new electrical buses have come for a good riding experience but then also the frequency is about 20 minutes. In today’s fast-moving time, waiting for transport for 20 minutes is a punishment.
The model Goa can follow for the local transport system is that of Lucknow. In Lucknow, there are no buses within the city, only electrical rickshaws – generally on sharing bases with fixed routes with fixed fares of Rs 10, get in any point – get down any point. Of course, some of them are available on the app, and even they may come to a special location at reasonable rates. And such rickshaws are large in number, they keep on moving, if you miss one next may follow shortly. The maximum capacity of these rickshaws is 6 passengers but they move even if 2 passengers are there as they expect more passengers ahead. Enquiries revealed that when fully charged, these rickshaws can run almost full day and if required they can be recharged in a few hours these rickshaws are highly economical to owners also.
Imagine in Panaji if such electrical auto rickshaws are running on several internal routes like Kadamba bus depot ,Miramar, Donapaula, Goa University, GMC, Santa Cruz, Four Pillars, Patto, Dona Paula , Caranzalem ,Tonca, St Inez, Caculo Mall, Panjim Market, Gita Bakery, Azad Maidan, Miramar, Panjim Church, Taleigao Church via St Inez Church, TB hospital all routes clockwise and counter clockwise. Such routes may be worked out for all major cities of Goa.
Not only they will connect every corner of the city and the surroundings, but there may be practically no waiting time and may help in reducing private vehicles on the road, saving a good amount of fossil fuel, and giving employment opportunities to a large number of deserving people.
