are demanding that the shuttle leaving at 7.30 am to Margao be replaced with a 55-seater bus instead of the present 45-seater.
The commuters also demand that the bus leaving to Panjim via Margao also be changed to a 55 seater from the existing 35-seater bus.
Following the demand from public, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral had written a letter one month back to the Chairman of Kadamba Transport Corporation Carlos Almeida requesting to replace the two shuttle service buses but till now nothing has been materialised.
Some travellers informed Herald that the bus which leaves Curchorem to Panjim via Margao is often crowded. “The bus which leaves to Margao from Curchorem is often not scheduled forcing the morning passengers to Margao board the Panjim bus and as a result some passengers have to travel standing in spite of having their valid monthly travel passes,” said a student who travels to GMC.
Another student informed that although the bus leaves at 7.50 am they have to run to the bus stop at 7.15 am and stand for a long queue to get the seat. However, they are often left disheartened as the seats gets full within no time and they have to travel standing for hours as it is a long journey from Curchorem to Panjim.
“The government should put bigger capacity bus or has to introduce one more bus to go to Panjim via Margao,” said the student.
When contacted KTC Chairman and Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida said that right now there are shortage of buses and therefore the Board will send a proposal within eight days asking Rs 5 crore from the government to buy the new buses. “We will introduce new buses and replace
some of the old buses once we get the grant for which the government has already made budgetary allocation,” said Almeida.
Meanwhile some teachers and office goers from Curchorem to Margao and vice-versa complained to the Chairman of KTC and copy was given to Curchorem MLA stating the bad condition of shuttle bus No.GA-03 X-111, plying on the Margao-Curchorem route.
They demanded a new bus as the existing bus has become very old. Commuters complain they get a bumpy ride and jerks on the way result into neck and backache which can aggravate further leading to more complication like spondilitis.
“t also gives tough time to senior citizens and pregnant women who travel daily by this bus and some time the bus remains off the road due to breakdown causing lot of inconvenience to the passengers,” they stated in the complaint letter.
