PANJIM: Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) buses have been involved in over 50 accidents each year in the last four year period.
The State-run transport corporation that caters to a large volume of the State’s population was established in 1980 and had been running in losses since its inception, but showed a profit for the first time in 2016.
Data furnished by KTCL, regarding accidents states that in 2013-14 there were 59 accidents, in 2014-15 there were 75 accidents, in 2015-16 it dropped to 70 and 2016-17 there were 67 accidents involving their buses.
KTCL has a fleet of 505 buses, of which 243 are semi luxury, 219 are mini buses, 25 are luxury buses, 12 air conditioned buses and six are Volvos. Besides this, the corporation has also hired air conditioned Volvo buses on contract basis which operate on the Mumbai and Hyderabad routes.
The corporation, which has earned over Rs 182 crore in last financial year shows it is in the deficit. During the financial year 2015-16 the corporation showed a profit of Rs 5.19 crore.
The losses have been justified by the corporation as they ply on routes that are loss making just so as to provide a service. The corporation also gives various concessions to students, senior citizens, widows, freedom fighters, handicapped, patients etc.KTCL has taken up the work of renovation of the bus stand at Mapusa and construction of bus stand at Pernem and Marcel for last financial year.
