The locals complain to the MLA of Cuncolim but the bus service resumes for one day and stops again the next day. Students reach almost an hour late to school, college and back home. The locals demand the resumption of the bus service as soon as possible as their studies and future are at stake.
Prajyot Dessai from Cuncolim narrated the sorry state of transport facilities from Betul to Cuncolim. “The bus which ferries more than 100 students daily from Betul to Cuncolim on notified route 117 A has almost stopped, resulting in delays to reach schools. The Kadamba direct bus which leaves at 7 in the morning reaches students by 7.35 to Cuncolim. Now students have to board a bus to Chinchinim first and then go to Cuncolim which is twice the time and distance. They now leave at 7 am and reach at 8.30 am which is a full one hour’s delay,” he explained. “The buses coming from Margao are jam packed and many a times they don’t stop for students,” he went on to add.
Dessai also said that he had approached Kadamba and the Local MLA too. But the bus service starts for a day and stops on the next. Loydon, a student of a College in Cuncolim and resident of Betul faces the problem daily. “I reach late to college and miss the first important lecture. That ruins my whole day,” he says.
Santosh Kolvenkar, a parent of two who study in Quepem and Cuncolim is facing daily hardships due to the absence of public transport. “There were two buses on the route between Betul-Cuncolim. The Kadamba bus plying worked well for a while but that has now stopped. I have to take my children to Quepem and Cuncolim on my scooter, battling the rains and risks,” he explained.
The parents and students have requested the Government or local authority to look into the matter and relieve them from the hardships they face.
