Margao-Colva-Gandaulim bus service takes off

MARGAO, OCT 5
Nearly two years after the government granted permission for a direct bus via Mungul, the Margao-Colva-Gandaulim bus service has finally become a reality.
After exploring various options, including the idea of deploying KTC buses on the route, the Transport department finally asked the existing bus operators on the Margao-Colva route via Benaulim to make a trip to Colva via Mungul on a daily basis.
Deputy Director of Transport, Prakash Azavedo told Herald that the bus service from Margao-Colva-Gandaulim via Mungul has started from Monday, adding that there’s now no reconsideration of the decision.
Local NGOs, including Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, which strongly rooted for the direct bus service to Colva, however, cried foul over the starting of the bus service sans wide publicity, saying this is a ploy by the operators and the government agencies to stop the bus service.
While welcoming the bus service, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida, however, sought to know why the bus service was not accompanied by the usual publicity, apprehending that a ground is being prepared by vested interest to stop the service for want of passengers. “Passengers would avail of the direct bus service only if there is wide publicity. The agencies ought to have take enough care on this count”, she added.
Azavedo, however, allayed the apprehensions raised by the NGOs, saying the Transport department is closely monitoring the situation and warned of stern action against any erring bus operators.
 “The existing operators were opposed to the entry of new operators on the new route. Hence, the department has given them the option to make one trip to Colva via Mungul. If they say that the route is not a good proposition, the department will be forced to call for new private players on the new route”, he added.
As far as publicity is concerned, Azavedo said that since the buses have started plying on the route, the NGOs and the local Panchayat body should give wide publicity in the villages covered by the new bus route.