TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Director transport Arun Dessai has said that public transport, through a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode where private and Kadamba buses would be hired by the government through a ‘special purpose vehicle’ (SPV), is the only option to provide relief to commuters.
Desai was Director speaking at a symposium on ‘how to improve public transport in Goa’ organized by Directorate of Transport as a part of Road Safety week, that will conclude on Wednesday.
He said Tuesday that PPP in public transport is meant for ‘reliable, efficient, effective and safe public transport’ that will provide immediate relief to the passengers, who are currently facing lot of hardship due to the inefficient public transport system.
Admitting that unreliable and inefficient public transport system has forced people to look for other alternatives, Desai said that on an average 50,000 new two-wheelers are being added to Goa’s streets every year.
Statistics also reveals that 17,000 new 4-wheelers are registered annually. Goa currently has 6,39,554 two-wheelers and 1,84,630 four-wheelers.
“The reason behind such high figures of private transport is an inefficient public transport system. The State roads are getting congested with private vehicles, as people are forced to look for other alternative for smooth means of transport,” Desai said at the symposium attended by private bus operators, taxi operators, auto rickshaw owners, KTC along with RTO officials.
As on date, State has 20,452 two-wheelers on hire, 56,200 goods vehicle, 15,420 tourist taxis and 9900 buses, which includes both KTC and private buses.
As per the proposal all 1,550 private and 390 Kadamba buses would be hired and run by the government through SPV. The SPV will provide the conductor and diesel whereas the owners of the buses will provide the driver and maintenance. The conductors would be provided with Electronic Ticketing machines (ETM) and a subsidy based on number of kilometers per day.
Desai said that the proposal also aims at re-organization of routes as village-to-town (mini-buses) and town-to-city (big-buses). “It would be a major challenge to bring in 10 associations and 1200 private bus owners under SPV,” he stated.
Director also announced that State government is currently considering a proposal to provide subsidy to private buses on per kilometer basis and also to insure all the conductors and drivers.
Speaking on the occasion GOACAN co-ordinator Roland Martins highlighted some of the irregularities of public transport system like clash of bus timing, overcrowding, non issuance of ticket, misbehavior, harassment to students, etc.
“Today the bus commuters are looked upon as those from low income group or as migrants by bus conductors or drivers. There is always ill-treatment meted out to the passengers,” he said.
