The Valpoi bus stand, which was a long-pending demand of the people, seems to be a white elephant. It is mainly due to the isolated location, which is away from the Valpoi market.
Valpoi is located in the centre of Sattari and surrounded by many villages. Many people from these villages visit Valpoi for its market and government work. Passenger buses come directly to the main bazaar and not to the bus stand, due to which the bus stand often wears a deserted look.
At present, this stand is looked after by Kadamba Transport Corporation and is being maintained for the last one year. However, only Kadamba buses visit this bus stand throughout the day, while private buses visit only at night.
The government has spent more than Rs 22 crore to construct this project, which has won a structural design award. The structure was designed by Rahul Deshpande.
Since the bus stand is 800 mts away from the Valpoi bazaar, many shops remain vacant. Kadamba and private buses only visit this stand not for passengers, but on the orders of the Director of Transport.
Incidentally, only the bus stand has been handed over to KTC, not the children’s park that was constructed behind the stand. The garden has not but opened till today and it has now become dilapidated. Footpath tiles are displaced and it will get destroyed if renovation is not done soon. As per information from reliable sources, this garden still belongs to GSIDC and no official is interested in maintaining the same, due to which it will be only a dream project for children.
Meanwhile, Valpoi Municipal Council Chairperson Ramdas Shirodkar stated, “Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane is one who had fulfilled the dream of Sattari residents to have one bus stand. He had gifted a very good project. Now everyone should cooperate to increase traffic at the bus stand. Also, KTC should try to allocate the vacant stalls to interested persons to run their business.”
