Despite the construction of a grand bus station in Pedne taluka, residents continue to face severe hardships due to the lack of local Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) buses connecting Pedne to Mapusa, Panaji, and other key areas. Every morning, hundreds of commuters—including students, office-goers, women, pregnant women, and the elderly—struggle to find seats or even a place to stand in overcrowded buses.
Ironically, while Kadamba buses from other villages stop at the Pedne bus station, they arrive packed with passengers, offering no space for locals boarding from Pedne. With no dedicated bus services starting from the Pedne depot, commuters are left with few options and are often forced to wait in vain, hoping a bus will stop and have room.
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Adding to their woes, buses are frequently canceled or break down without prior notice. Commuters are often told to “make their own arrangements,” further aggravating the situation. The scenario witnessed on Thursday morning highlighted the growing frustration, as stranded passengers voiced their distress over the daily ordeal.
Locals have also raised concerns about safety at the station, alleging that some KTC drivers bypass the designated route and enter through ‘no-entry’ areas, increasing the risk of accidents within the station premises.
Demanding urgent government action, passengers have appealed to the local MLA and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to address the issue and ensure that Pedne residents get reliable, timely, and safe public transport. They have also called for stricter regulation of bus overloading and for dedicated buses to be operated from the Pedne depot to meet the needs of the local population.
