MARGAO: The much sought after Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) shuttle service between Margao and Panjim has come under criticism by a section of its passengers. The non pass holders, who feel they need better service, especially at the time of tickets being issued.
Comparing the system in place for pass holders, the other passengers have claimed that they are being treated unfairly and forced to wait in the queue much longer. They have even complained pass holders are taken in first, even if there are two buses, both of which are almost full of pass holders. The complaint is that there is hardly any space left thereafter for the other passengers, thus leading to longer queues. It is to be noted that, getting a pass has its benefits as a pass holder just has to show his or her pass and pay for the same in advance.
The other passengers have also complained about being asked to tender exact change. They point out that if they don’t have it, the staff handling the tickets, take time to give back the change. There have been complaints about how they are spoken rudely to if they don’t have change and how this sometimes, leads to arguments, which in turn, delays the queue even further.
There have been suggestions about KTC appointing at least two staff members for handling tickets and that they have to act in a quicker manner given that there are thousands of passengers that travel from Margao to Panjim every day.
There have also been complaints about some people, jumping the queue and asking for favours to get their tickets issued, especially government servants, which delays the queue even further.
In many cases, people waiting in the long queues, opt for other options instead of losing time waiting for the shuttle.
Sachin Bandodkar, who says he has had to wait in queue for over 50 minutes on peak days, demanded that pass holders also be made to stand in a queue, which can be a separate queue but that it would ensure fair distribution of tickets.
Sahil Naik, another passenger who takes the shuttle regularly, lamented that the current system is unfair to them and that the current practice has to change.
Senior citizens and persons with disabilities have also called for separate queues and better facilities. It may be recalled that KTC has already admitted to its staff being under-utilised and these passengers have called on the corporation to address their complaints at the earliest.
