PONDA: The pace at which the re-construction work is being undertaken at the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) terminus in Ponda, an important inter-State bus terminus, could put a sloth’s pace to shame. The bus stand was first inaugurated by the then Goa Chief Minister Ravi Naik in 1992 and in 2017; the present government gave the green signal to reconstruct it with fresh amenities.
But almost six years now, the work has come to a complete full stop - almost.
Herald TV went there for a ground-level inspection. The road leading towards the bus stop is riddled with large crater-like potholes. One look at the bus stop is enough to convince bus commuters and citizens alike, that the reconstruction work has been abandoned.
There was no supervisor present at the site and barely 4-5 construction workers having their afternoon siesta. Shockingly, their lives were at total risk as a commercial gas cylinder was being used to prepare meals, instead of a domestic LPG cylinder.
A few new concrete pillars were erected at the site and some stilts were placed beneath them. The new asbestos sheets that are to be used to cover the roof were totally mixed with the old and discarded sheets. Other fresh construction material was merely dumped at one corner with no security guards present.
Furthermore, since the terminus has no regular maintenance work being carried out; mounds of garbage lay at the terminus with cows feasting on them.
Want a KTC bus to Margao? Take a private bus: KTC staff
KTC staff was caught totally unaware of the bus schedules. This reporter found out how the staff was found relaxing and when questioned by our reporter as to when the next bus would be available to travel to Margao, the staff simply said none and requested the reporter to board a private bus instead.
With work abandoned, cattle turning the bus stand into a stable, and poor travel services, street urchins have now found it convenient to make merry at the bus stand. Further exposes have thrown light how empty liquor bottles from beer to whisky, were strewn all over.
With the promised reconstruction work in dire straits, the government, especially the Transport Department will have to find a catalyst to ensure that the work is expedited and the terminus indeed becomes a reality.