MAPUSA: GOACAN has expressed concern on encroachment of Passenger Seating area & access to Bus bay No. 5 at Mapusa by a tea stall, permitted by Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL).
In a letter to the Director of Transport, Rajan Satardekar, GOACAN pointed out that the encroachment was noticed during the inspection of the bus stand conducted by the monitoring cell of the North Goa District Road Safety Committee on October 28 where the tea stall has not only taken over the area of two benches, but blocked the access to the bus bay and have cut off the ventilation on one side. It is learnt that construction of the tea stall at the bus stand did not have any permission from the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
GOACAN highlighted that during the inspection, Mapusa Fire station in-charge Bosco Ferrao had pointed out that this kind of increased commercial activity in the limited seating & movement area for the passengers can cause fire hazard.
GOACAN in its letter has stated that “we can understand that KTCL seeks to increase its revenue from increasing commercial activity at the bus stand, but we are unable to understand why this activity is sought to be done at the cost of the comfort and safety of the passengers.”
GOACAN has pointed out in its letter that while Road Safety & Traffic Management is discussed at the State & North Goa District level and the public is directed to follow the law & safety procedures, it is very sad to see that a Government owned Corporation like KTCL is undertaking such unsafe practices. This blatant violation is not only causing stress among the passengers and the bus operators but is being widely reported in the media as well.
This is the second incident wherein KTCL has allowed commercial activities at the cost of the safety of passengers, first being at the Panjim bus stand.
GOACAN requested the director of transport to put a stop to the encroachment at the bus stand and request KTCL to relocate the proposed tea stall thereby bringing relief to the passengers and the bus operators..
