PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that electric buses will operate in the capital city of Panjim and surrounding areas on trial basis from Monday even as Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate strongly demanded to rectify the faulty bus shelter design and advertisement rights given to the agency.
”I have instructed to start operating new electric buses on the outer routes of the city. For inner routes, I have instructed to hold talks with the private bus operators. We do not have to damage interest of the private bus operators. They have been given options. Our plan is to have only electric buses in the capital city. Discussions are on with the private operators. We have given them three options,” Sawant told mediapersons after the review meeting .
Speaking to O Heraldo, Monserrate said, ”The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd has been asked to stop construction of bus stops in the city. The present work has been red-flagged by CAG as well. As per the tender, there are 36 bus stops being constructed at the cost of Rs 3.27 crore. So cost of each bus stop comes to Rs 9 lakh but not even Rs 2 lakh is being spent on these bus stops. The advertisement rights are given to the agency which has constructed bus stops. It is infringement of rights of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). Even if there is maintenance clause of the bus stops, I do not know what maintenance is required during the next 10 years.”
”The bus stops look more like a stand for advertisement boards. It is not feasible given the climatic condition we have in the State. There is no shed for rain or sun. I will not allow casino operators to advertise on these bus stops. Therefore, I raised the issue in the meeting and the Chief Minister instructed the contractor/agency to stop the work of faulty bus stops and to rectify them. Electric Buses will be operational as per the plan,” he added.
Monserrate said the private bus operators have been given three options such as ‘buy back, change the route or join Majhi Bus Scheme.’
However, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, IPSCDL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said, ”Some additions or deletions are there. There can be improvement also. We will inform the government accordingly. But electric buses will run as per the notification. We are ready to commission our service.”
The government has decided to run six electric bus in the city on trial basis from Monday, March 18.
The IPSCDL stated that as far as the issue of the bus shelter component was concerned, it was directed that the design specifications and tender conditions for the bus shelters which is handled by the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) along with the proposal for bus shelters put forth by the CCP at the review meeting will be presented to the government for consideration and decision.
