MARGAO: The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited on Monday celebrated its 39th anniversary but the commuters are still left struggling with crumbling infrastructure and the corporation with the losses.
After two years, the work of the Vasco Bus Stand is just six per cent completion and the State-run bus transport corporation continuously losing its routes, show the apathy the government has inflicted on the State carrier.
Chairman Carlos Almeida has however expressed hope and efforts from his side for the betterment of the four-decade old State transport corporation. Take the example of Margao KTC Bus Stand, from inside as well as outside the bus stand and the depot is in dilapidated conditions. The structure, which is today called the Kadamba bus stand, is actually a bus shed and is now 30 years old.
The passengers have no proper facilities at the shed. Benches that are too few are outdated and need to be replaced. The drinking water facility at the bus stand is discontinued encouraging more of single-use plastic in the form of water bottles.
As far as actual transport goes there are no proper signages and bus bays notifying buses departing to Colva, Curtorim, Cuncolim and many other routes. Several passengers are left in the scorching heat or in the rains waiting for their buses to arrive.
During an inspection held earlier last month, it was noticed that grass has grown on the roof of the present shed which may result in weakening the same.
Though the KTC boasts of having introduced new routes across Goa in the Economic Survey of Goa, there is no last-mile connectivity from the KTC bus stand to Comba which has a huge student population coming from across South Goa to the several institutions around.
“What is the pay parking rates (PAX)? Who knows, who cares? After all the bus stand does not have a manager? There is a Depot Manager who takes care of these buses? Nobody cares for PAX. Ask the shuttle PAX and they tell you how they suffer silently,” said Roland Martins of GOACAN, who has been constantly following up on the issues surrounding KTC Margao areas for PAX.
The bus stand at present is not friendly to senior citizens and the disabled. People from the South Goa had high hopes that when an MLA from South Goa became the chairman there would be a change.
But after seeing the State of the Vasco bus stand, they have given up hope. The Goa Economic Survey informs that only six per cent of the work of the Vasco Bus stand is completed after two long years. This has forced people to lose hope on having a bus stand for Margao.
Though, the Margao Depot is one of the biggest KTC bus stand in Goa by traffic as well as size they are not entitled to play host to KTCL anniversary celebrations.
The reasons are in front of all. The bus stand hasn’t been attended by the Government for decades and the people have learned to live with it now.
When Herald contacted Chairman of KTCL Carlos Almeida, he said, “No State transport corporation in any State of India survives on public transport alone.”
“We have to make best use of the properties we have at Margao, Mapusa and Panjim,” he said.
“I will raise the issue of new Margao bus stand plan with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant soon,” he added.
While commenting on the slow pace of Vasco bus stand work, Carlos said, “The work had stopped but has restarted now. There is a lot of piling work that is required to be done before the work on structures begin, hence it is taking time.”
