BICHOLIM: The bus stand at Sanquelim is looming under the possible delay in completion with the work over the project being halted for the last several months despite the MLA saying the project would be completed in one year’s time.
It may be stated that the work of the Sanquelim bus stand is presently underway since last one year and all the shops and establishments have been shifted outside the stand. As per the locals the work of the bus stand has been halted due to financial crunch and they are now wondering as to when this project will see the light of the day.
“The work over the project had started one year back but now it is left incomplete. The work has been stopped for the last two months and we don’t know as to when it is going to resume,” Anil Kanekar, a shopkeeper who has been shifted outside the bus stand, told Herald. “We feel that it is because of the financial crunch that it is left pending. The government should first see whether there are financial provisions and only then should start the work,” Kanekar added.
“There are rumours that this bus stand will not get completed for the next three to four years. There are very little customers who come here and we are suffering losses,” Kanekar said. “We demand that this project should be completed as early as possible and we should be relocated to the new premises,” the shopkeeper added.
The people also feel that there are no facilities provided to the people near the bus stop. “There are no toilets; we demand that at least bio-toilets should be installed here so that the shopkeepers and the public could benefit from it,” said Vasudev Bhange from Sanquelim.
After the hue and cry from the public, the Sanquelim Municipal Council (SMC) erected a shed at the promised place.
“There are several problems faced by the public near the bus stand and the work of the project is halted. There are no customers for the shopkeepers, no parking place, no toilet facility,” SMC chairman Dharmesh Saglani said, adding “we will try our best to provide necessary facilities but we cannot interfere as the work is being taken up by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation.”
Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant while accepting there is delay in the project, said: “It was delayed by about six months during the shifting to the new place. Because of the misunderstanding between the consultant and the contractor the project has been delayed. I have taken several meetings with the concerned officials. Even we are concerned as the project has been delayed.”
“It was to be completed within the span of two years. The work of entire foundation work has been completed of both the bus stands and the mini depot. In next eight to ten months the entire work should be ready and I am working towards it. I will have another review meeting to speed up the entire process.” Dr Sawant said.
