POINGUINIM: Private bus operators from Canacona have come out openly in favour of the government-run KTC proposal to hire private buses on contract basis.
Speaking to Herald, Anthony Periera, who owns a fleet of mini buses that operate along the Margao-Polem route, criticized All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) General Secretary Sudip Tamankar for looking at his own interest and not that of the welfare of the minibus private route operators.
“Tamankar should not meddle with the affairs of the private bus operators from Canacona taluka,” Periera said.
Another minibus operator said they used to make profit about ten years ago and presently are running into huge losses because the Transport Department gave route permits to all those who applied for the permit.
“This has resulted in clashes on timings and the fight between rivals has become a day-to-day affair,” the operator said.
The locals also welcomed the move of the government, stating that many private bus operators don’t operate on Sundays and other government holidays and the commuters have to undergo many hardships.
The only benefit to the locals is that the private bus operators halt at any place to pick and drop passengers. On the other hand, the KTC buses have fixed bus halts and avoid internal roads.
