PORVORIM: Pointing out that 62 per cent of the total buses operated by Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) have exceeded the 15-year age limit, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said that the buses running under KTC fleet have turned into “coffins”.
Speaking during the discussions on demand that also included transport, Sardesai pointed out to the House that frequent breakdown of buses were causing great inconvenience to the passengers particularly the school students.
“Kadamba buses have become coffins. As many as 323 buses out of the total 520 i.e. 62 per cent of the buses of Kadamba have exceeded the number of years as per the bus scrapping guidelines. These buses are more than 15 years old and still running on the road. Government wants to bring in a scrapping policy when their own buses are in coffin…it can go anytime, which means people travelling in Kadmaba are not safe,” Sardesai said.
Quoting government data, the Fatorda MLA said that in the last 12 months KTCL buses have suffered break down 687 times wherein engine failure, transmission failure and electrical system failure were common causes that led to break down of buses.
“Data shows that 29 buses needed repairs more than five times in the last 12 months. There are no periodic maintenance of buses. Government spent Rs 1.82 crore for repairing the buses in 2021-22 and this financial year the expenditure has increased substantially to Rs 5.48 crore. The data also shows that 58 per cent of non-electrical buses operate at a mileage of four kilometer per litre,” Sardesai added.
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa urged the government to re-start the KTC bus service on Saleli-Vasco and Sukhtolem-Gokuldem routes that were discontinued during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I request the government to construct a bus stand and also a rickshaw stand at Quepem. I also urge the government to construct a bus stop at Balli main junction for the convenience of the public,” D’Costa said.
