Over the past couple of months, Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) has been in the news with regards to leaking buses, broken windows, and hour-long delays at the Margao bus stand, causing inconvenience to commuters. However, the State-owned corporation has acknowledged several challenges including maintenance issues and shortage of buses.
Speaking about the challenges, KTCL Managing Director Pravin Kaskar said, “During the monsoon, there were leakages from bus ceilings, and windows had fallen out. Many buses are 13 to 14 years old. The fleet is currently operating at roughly 80% efficiency. This year, around 17 to 18 buses will be scrapped. The same will follow next year, and by 2027, over 200 buses will be scrapped. We have around 230 to 250 buses that are more than 12 or 13 years old—that’s over 50% of our fleet. So, there are clearly maintenance issues. Our depot teams are working on them. We’ve already procured the necessary materials, especially with the monsoon in mind. The issues highlighted by the media are being looked into. We’ve had two meetings on the matter and have instructed depot managers and technical staff to thoroughly check the buses.”
“Now that schools have reopened, the mini buses typically used for school transport are back in service, leaving fewer buses available for regular operations. This has led to a shortage,” Kaskar said.
With the existing buses, Kaskar said, they are being retrofitted to keep operations going—but he acknowledged that there were challenges.
He said all buses would be rechecked for leakages and broken windows. Aluminium foil had been purchased, and although sealant had been used, it had not held up due to the incessant rainfall in the State. However, he said: “We will sort out the problem.”
Regarding the shortage of buses on the Margao–Panjim route, which has been causing inconvenience to commuters, Kaskar said, “Margao is a nationalised route. In the morning, there’s a rush from Margao, and in the evening, from Panjim. On that particular day, there was a problem with the EV buses.”
He said “Four to five of them had nearly exhausted their battery life and were due for battery pack replacements. We’ve held multiple meetings with depot managers and the supplier, SP Trans Company. They’ve now assigned an engineer from China, who has arrived with the necessary materials. The battery packs are being replaced.”
He said the long queue at the Margao bus stand that day was due to these technical problems.
“Because of the technical issues, the EV buses didn’t have the required range. They could only complete one trip from Panjim to Margao and back. After that, the batteries failed, and all those buses had to be parked in Panjim. Diesel buses were deployed by 9:30 am to manage the situation.”
Another issue, he pointed out, was with passengers holding EV cards, which are slightly more expensive—by around Rs 5—compared to regular fares. These passengers were unwilling to board the diesel buses. “Going forward, this won’t be a problem, as the battery packs are being replaced. According to our latest update, only four to six buses remain to be retrofitted,” he added.
Speaking about the number of buses operating between Panjim and Margao, Vasco, and Ponda, Kaskar said the deployment was based on passenger flow. The actual number, he said, was much higher than the 70–80 buses quoted by a private operator. “These are nationalised routes, and we are obligated to operate them because there are no private buses. We’re operating on the Margao and Vasco routes. In Ponda, I don’t think there are many KTC buses, as several private operators already run services there. If we operate extensively in those areas, it may create conflict with them,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kaskar disclosed that KTCL would purchase 57 new buses in September this year.
He said “Four to five of them had nearly exhausted their battery life and were due for battery pack replacements. We’ve held multiple meetings with depot managers and the supplier, SP Trans Company. They’ve now assigned an engineer from China, who has arrived with the necessary materials. The battery packs are being replaced.”
He said the long queue at the Margao bus stand that day was due to these technical problems.
“Because of the technical issues, the EV buses didn’t have the required range. They could only complete one trip from Panjim to Margao and back. After that, the batteries failed, and all those buses had to be parked in Panjim. Diesel buses were deployed by 9:30 am to manage the situation.”
Another issue, he pointed out, was with passengers holding EV cards, which are slightly more expensive—by around Rs 5—compared to regular fares. These passengers were unwilling to board the diesel buses. “Going forward, this won’t be a problem, as the battery packs are being replaced. According to our latest update, only four to six buses remain to be retrofitted,” he added.
Speaking about the number of buses operating between Panjim and Margao, Vasco, and Ponda, Kaskar said the deployment was based on passenger flow. The actual number, he said, was much higher than the 70–80 buses quoted by a private operator. “These are nationalised routes, and we are obligated to operate them because there are no private buses. We’re operating on the Margao and Vasco routes.
In Ponda, I don’t think there are many KTC buses, as several private operators already run services there. If we operate extensively in those areas, it may create conflict with them,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kaskar disclosed that KTCL would purchase 57 new buses in September this year.
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