Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Imagine Panjim Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) claimed credit for efficiently operating 48 e-buses — highlighting a revenue of Rs 1.93 crore in the first nine months — a reality check on the ground revealed a much starker picture.
One of the long-standing promises made since the launch of the e-bus fleet was that it would be disabled-friendly. IPSCDL CEO Sanjit Rodrigues stated, "All the buses are of low floor and have ramps which open out. If a wheelchair-bound person wants to get in, then each bus has a place for wheel chair inside. You just have to make a request to the driver."
However, conversations with several drivers painted a contrasting picture. While the ramps technically exist, they are rarely used — or functional — due to the lack of support staff.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Avelino D’Sa of the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) said, "They do have a ramp but there is no one to unroll it. If a disabled person wishes to board one of these buses, he or she cannot because there is nobody to assist them. In Panjim, buses operate with a lone driver and he cannot get out of the bus to help the user. In order for it to be disabled-friendly, they should have another person who can take the ramp out and take the wheelchair in."
He stressed the need for conductors: "There has to be conductors because it is not just a matter of putting the wheel chair inside but one has to climb onto the wheelchair. The conductor-less buses may be feasible for normal persons but in the case of disabled persons, it doesn’t help."
A driver echoed the same concerns, noting that driving itself is a specialised responsibility. "Having a conductor is must. If a disabled person tries to board a bus and he requires assistance, then how can the driver leave the steering to help him? When buses are full, what is the driver supposed to do? Will he handle the passengers, issue tickets or drive the vehicle? The work load of a driver increases when there is no conductor. The problem aggravates if the bus is caught in a traffic congestion."
He further said: "If any untoward incident takes place, then driver is blamed. There is so much unemployment, I do not know why this concept is being introduced. At least some youth will get jobs if there are conductors in the buses. Conductor-less buses may work in foreign countries but not here."
Drivers also noted a key operational issue with the lack of conductors. One driver said, "In the absence of conductors, drivers are saddled with the task of receiving payments using POS machines and issuing tickets if the passenger is not carrying a smart phone or does not use UPI. This adds to his workload. Passengers do not care about the driver’s problems. They are only interested in reaching the destination."
As a result, more than ten drivers have reportedly quit due to excessive work pressure.
Despite these concerns, officials seem more focused on the bottom line than on commuter needs. At a press conference, Rodrigues pointed to rising monthly earnings — from Rs 6.49 lakh in July 2024 to Rs 27.24 lakh by March 2025. He added that digital payments now account for 34% of total revenue, a move seen as progress towards a cashless ecosystem.
He maintained, "The Smart City mission is very clear. The buses will be conductor-less and payment will be digital. It will reduce cost of operation. Employing a conductor costs Rs 10 per kilometre on an average.”
The question, however, remains if profit should come at the expense of inclusivity and employee dissatisfaction