PONDA: The termination of passenger bus services on the Agapur-Ponda route by the private bus operators and KTC since COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown from March has badly affected the people living at Talavalim and Durbaht, Adpai and Agapur panchayats areas.
The locals informed said that prior to the lockdown there were several buses plying on the route for every half-an-hour. But it’s four months past now for the unlock they have not seen any bus on the route and are forced to cover the Agapur to Ponda Market, a 9-km distance, by walking or sometimes by taking a lift.
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The locals while addressing their plight to the media persons put forth their grievances.
Shubangi Naik, who runs a small tea hotel at Adpai said, “My husband is sick and I face great hardship in carrying him to the hospital for medical treatment. I even face hardship to earn a livelihood as I can’t go for shopping at the Ponda market to buy the necessary goods required to run the hotel.”
Prashant Naik and other locals said, “The government should urgently look into the matter as since lockdown all the buses including one of KTC on the route has been terminated. As the working locals are facing hardship, the private bus operators should ply their buses at least during the office hours in the morning and evening.”
However, to the surprise, when contacted the KTC Control Room at Ponda Kadamba bus stand, the employees agreed that the bus service has been terminated on the Agapur-Ponda route. But when brought to the notice that the locals are suffering in the absence of bus service, the staff on duty immediately reported the matter to the higher-ups and informed that the bus service would start from Tuesday on its regular time.
When asked why the private buses not plying on the route, Assistant Director of Transport, Ponda Rajesh Naik informed that he would conduct an inquiry into the matter.
