MARGAO: With too few private buses plying the roads of Salcete, overcrowded buses packed with passengers hanging dangerously from the doors is a common sight around Margao during peak hours.
One can spot many buses, especially the ones plying on the city routes of Margao to Gogol, Aquem, Davorlim, Ravanfond , Rumdamol and Quepem, carrying passengers way beyond capacity.
As per the norms, the actual seating capacity of a city bus is 44 passengers.
Some commuters who are forced to wait for long at the bus stops, complain that they are sick of the buses not halting at their stops because they are already full on their way to the city.
Mahesh Naik, who commutes every day from Margao to the Housing Board stop, said that most city buses plying on his route can be seen taking extra passengers during the peak office hours in the morning and evening.
Traffic police personnel who crackdown on various other violations during these times, rarely take note of the dangerous overcrowding of buses, he added.
Commuters, who appeal to the government to commission more buses for the busy parts of Salcete, allege that the bus conductors, in order to maximise their profits, continue to violate the Motor Vehicle Act and putting the lives of passengers at risk by packing their buses beyond the capacity.
