PANJIM, NOV 4
Public Works Department will now have to take permission from the Transport department before allowing any more bus stops in the state.
The Task Fore on transport, chaired by Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, last week, took strong objections to the scores of roadside bus stops, which many at times come up just to allow corporate houses to advertise their products.
State transport director Arun Desai, last week, has asked PWD to take prior permission or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from them before letting any bus stop sprung.
“Within the city itself you will find several unauthorized bus stops,” Desai said adding that construction of any such structure should be done only after public demand, transport department’s scrutiny and district magistrate’s order. He said that all these rules are flouted.
Task Force meeting which was held on Wednesday also decided to form a committee under the chairmanship of transport director in order to study the traffic flow and the number of bus stops on national highways.
The committee, on November 10 evening will visit – Panjim-Margao, Panjim-Vasco and Margao- Vasco routes to survey number of unauthorized stops and traffic congestions.
The report will be presented to the Task Force in its next meeting, scheduled to be held in December’s first week.
“These three routes are taken on trial bases. It has been brought to our notice that a good number of unauthorized stops have come up across these routes. At the same time some authorized stops are lying unused,” director stated.
As per the statistics, there are 28 bus stops on Panjim-Margao route and 30 on Panjim-Vasco route.
He pointed out that at places like Nuvem, Agassaim and Goa Velha, there are two bus stops exactly opposite to each other creating traffic mess.
The meeting decided that there should be at least 100 meters distance between two bus stops, although they are located at each side of the road.
The department is also planning to come up with bus bay at Nuvem, Agassaim and Goa Velha for smooth functioning of traffic. “We have notice that buses waste nearly 10-15 minutes at these spots,” Desai said.
The department will also come up with the traffic management according to which, the buses will be asked to stop at alternate bus stops. Also every third bus on the route will be express one.
The director said that although the entire process will take time, traffic would be smooth at the end of it.
When asked, Desai said that it’s not just the responsibility of the transport department or bus owners but public also need to play an equally important role when it comes to traffic management.
“Rather the waiting at the bus stops, people, always in hurry, stand on the road to flag down buses, which then becomes a commonplace to either pick or drop passenger further delaying the entire journey,” he stated.
