Easing Margao traffic: short route buses to be barred entry

MARGAO, OCT 3
Come October 18, and all short distance route buses will be barred from taking a round of the Margao Municipal garden before heading for their destinations to ease acute traffic congestion in the heart of the Commercial Capital.
By prohibiting the entry of these buses into the city, authorities hope to curtail the movement of buses – perceived as being the main cause of congestion around the Municipal garden.
Margao Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes told Herald after a traffic meeting that all short route buses originating from Margao and heading to Navelim, Housing Board, Shantinagar-Mandopa, Nessai, Ramnagar, Betalbatim-Majorda route will henceforth not allowed to enter into the city when they commence their journey from the KTC bus stand.
If the deputy Collector is to be believed, these buses will have to go straight head to their respective destinations without taking a round-about-route of the Margao Municipal garden.
He further said the bus bay near the State Bank of India, Margao was supposed to be used only for alighting and boarding of passengers. “However, experience shows that instead of using the same as a bus stop, short route buses are using the same as a bus stand, resulting in long queue of buses, creating traffic congestions”, he said.
In this respect, the meeting has resolved that the State Bank of bus bay will be used only by the long distance buses, while designating Sabina hotel as the alighting and boarding point for the short distance buses.
As far as buses starting from the Margao KTC bus stand proceeding to housing board, Shantinagar Mandopa, Nessai and Ramnagar is concerned, the deputy collector said these buses after department from the KTC stand will have to take the left route leading to Gaylin hotel at the Ana Fonte garden before proceeding to their respective destinations.
Replying to a question, Johnson said the traffic cell and the Enforcement wing of the Director of Transport have been told to take appropriate steps in executing the directions from October 18.
These traffic measures recommended by the deputy Collector comes against the backdrop of reports from the Traffic department and the Director of Transport. DySP Traffic, Gajanan Prabhudesai maintained that the permitting buses to adopt the round-a-about approach to reach to their destination results in overcrowding of buses at the bus bay near the SBI, Margao.