The inter-state bus terminal appears to exist only by name without any basic amenities. The bus operators as well as the commuters are facing major issues due to an improper bus terminal at Patto, Panjim.
When Herald went on an inspection at the terminal on Monday, it discovered that it was in a pathetic condition and it presented him a horrible picture. The place is almost in darkness with no illumination at night. There are no proper pavements and the entrance roads to the terminal are not tarred. To make matters worse there are no toilets.
This interstate bus terminal is situated behind the Panjim KTC bus terminal on the property owned by the Transport Department. Besides only the land being levelled there is not even a single basic facility at this bus terminal provided by the Transport Department after it was shifted from to Patto.
The area between both the Mandovi Bridges was used as the inter-state bus terminal was for many years. But after work for the third new Mandovi Bridge commenced the inter-state bus terminal was shifted to Patto over a year back.
This new terminal at Patto is double the size of the previous location. Most of the space at the Patto terminal has not been utilised. The buses have not been allotted proper place for parking which has worsened the situation.
The commuters entering the bus terminal are facing many difficulties, especially in the monsoons, as there are no proper shelters to avoid rain whilst waiting for their buses. In the absence of toilets commuters as well as the bus drivers and cleaners are forced to urinate in the open.
“Come rain or sun, the people are affected badly, the state of affairs is very pathetic. There are many tourists visiting Goa from the neighbouring states. What impression do we create of our state in the minds of these tourists when they arrive for the first time,” said Issac Fernandes, a taxi operator from Panjim.
Pranay Naik Salgaonkar, bus operator from Goa, said that government should take immediate steps to put in place all the basic necessities at this terminal. “It is very annoying that it is more than a year now that the situation at this terminal has not improved,” he said.
The bus operators who chose not to be identified said the government should create a fund from the taxes we pay and improve the situation at the terminal. “We are paying various types of taxes to the state government every time we enter and exit the state,” operators said.
