PERNEM: Senior citizens from Pernem on Thursday held a peaceful hunger protest in front of the Pernem administrative complex demanding that the authorities make it mandatory for Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) & Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses proceeding to and fro Sindhudurg via Pernem to halt at the Pernem bus stand.
Ten days ago, a delegation of senior citizens from Pernem had submitted a memorandum to the Pernem Deputy Collector Deepak Vaigankar wherein they had threatened to stage a hunger strike if they failed to act on it before September 7.
The protesting citizens said that interstate buses of both KTCL and MSRTC except Vengurla depot, are not plying via the Pernem bus stand which causes inconvenience to regular passengers. Since these buses ply only along the highway, the people are forced alight in the middle of the journey on the highway which is a major safety concern especially for working women, students, etc.
“Several memorandums were submitted in the past but the authorities failed to implement the same. We expected action this time, but to no avail. MSRTC buses don’t enter the town and leave out and out from the highway. People visit the Pernem administrative complex, which houses various other government departments, but since these buses do not halt at the bus stand, the people are inconvenienced as they have to wait for hours for the private buses to arrive, they pointed out.
A senior citizen said, “The ticket collectors often act in a rude manner with passengers. Last time when my daughters were travelling in one of the buses they were forced to get down near Malpem petrol pump, which is a major safety concern.”
The senior citizens said that there are ladies, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others, who travel in these buses. Does the government expect these people to get down on the highway and walk alone to reach their respective homes? Are we supposed to keep submitting memorandums time and time again?
“Government should solve such issues on their level and not force the senior citizens to come out. We are giving 15 days an ultimatum to act on this failing which we are going to protest and take morcha at the office of RTO and Kadamba”, Bhaskar Narulkar a local said.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the protest, Pernem deputy collector visited the protest site and met the protestors. He told them that he has already initiated on this matter and already written to authorities concerned for necessary action.
