The KTC was supposed to be a lifeline for Goa’s infamous transportation system to alleviate the hardships from the draconian mode of operations by the private bus lobby and bring some semblance of discipline.
But alas, the KTC, over the years ever since its inception, has failed to live up to the Goans’ aspiration but instead has become a milking cow to the corrupt minds and punching bag of the politicians at large. The loss making corporation cannot and will never be able to sustain itself due to rampant corruption at all levels besides the malpractices – cheating by the jumping conductors, I call them jumping conductors for I have witnessed them never issuing tickets between some of the sectors at rush hours. The daily commuters from Margao to Verna electronic city are such one milking sector.
The streamlining of the corporation is the need of the hour if we want to resurrect the ailing corporation. The KTC should immediately seek the redemption to avoid the closing up the shop as one can envisage that once the folding up/closure is announced the workforce of drivers will stage a dharna and hoping the governments will interfere only to bail out once again and pump in crores to keep it afloat. For how long will they waste the money from the public exchequer without showing any accountability?
The drivers and all other staff of the KTC, first of all, should think that they should work honestly to make this corporation viable so that their jobs are secured and not just bank to survive at the cost of the commuters. The attitude of the drivers and staff has to change to overcome the ills of the corporation besides an honest head of the corporation.
The demand for the routes and buses will always grow manifold as Goa has grown up now to hordes of migrants and business houses everywhere. Hence the demand for the movement of people cannot be curtailed due to lack of transportation. The markets in the main towns and cities come to a grinding halt due to lack of public transport. If businesses have to thrive, definitely the business hours have to be increased and thus increase of bus timings at night time is the need of the hour so that more people can go out late shopping after their office hours. It’s a nightmare for those who seek public transport after 8 or 9 pm. For those who may cry lack of safety at late night hours, the government should ensure protection by planting one or two policemen on every bus which plies after 9 pm on every route in Goa. This will surely address the concerns of those who fear travelling late night hours.
Hope someone listens to these pleas and ensures prompt remedial steps to ensure better public transport in Goa failing the demand for scrapping of KTC should be loud and clear-what may come!
