Almeida was responding to claims that a number of buses have been stranded in the garage for repairs and maintenance work, severely affecting commuters plying between Vasco and Margao, Vasco and Panjim and Vasco and Ponda.
“I don’t think that’s true, as buses to be scrapped have been kept separately. Sometimes, spares are not available easily and it has to be ordered from outside the State, which causes a delay in getting the buses operational,” Almeida told Herald when asked about the claims that a number of KTC buses are off the routes.
“I convene a review meeting every alternate month to keep track of the buses and their conditions,” he said.
Responding to claims that drivers have had to sit idle at the bus stand as buses are kept at the garage for maintenance and repairs, Almeida replied, “There are excess drivers. Many are on leave due to accidents and injuries, and once the VRS scheme starts in January, the problem will be solved.”
It may be recalled that people from several parts of Vasco complained that they have been put to hardship due to an acute shortage of KTC buses.
