the goan I network
MARGAO
All appeared not well at the Margao KTC bus stand as an inspection of the stand and its surroundings revealed a host of discrepancies, ranging from inadequate seating arrangements, no drinking water facility, passengers alighting right on a road exposing the commuters to accidents et al.
While the RTO washed its hands off saying the bus stand falls in the KTC domain, the Margao traffic cell said they have already proposed to the PWD to install rumbler strips and paint zebra crossings outside the bus stand.
The inspection revealed inadequacies in seating arrangement for senior citizens as well as for bus drivers and conductors at the bus stand.
The less said about the drinking water facility the better, with commuters complaining of absence of drinking water at the bus
stand.
While the KTC depot manager Roque Luis claimed that arrangement has been put in place to clear the daily waste generated at the bus stand, the ground reality appeared different with the waste, including dry waste found dumped inside the premises.
Complaints of water being sold at the toilet block was brought before the notice of the KTC depot manager, but the Manager pointed out that since the toilet block has been set up by the Tourism department, his office will send a letter to the department to spruce up the sanitation facility.
RTO deputy Director, Arlekar informed that since the KTC collects fees from the buses entering the bus stand, the responsibility lies on the Corporation to spruce up the facilities inside the bus stand, making it clear that the Transport department has no role to play in the maintenance of the bus stand.
When the attention of the depot manager was drawn to the alighting of passengers right on the road going towards Fatorda, he said a meeting of the RTO, traffic police will be called soon to address the issue collectively, pointing out that
enforcement is the domain of the RTO and the traffic police.
On waste disposal, the depot manager Luis said that an agency has been engaged to collect both dry and wet waste at the premises, adding that steps will be taken to address theissue.
Roland Martins of GOACAN later told the media that the main bus stand has to be safe if there has to be road safety in the state.
The inspection was arranged with the view to provide better amenities to the passengers given that it may take more than 2-3 years for the proposed Margao bus stand to take shape.
“The KTC Margao bus stand is located right on the road. We will request the government to build the new bus stand to take care of the requirements for the next 50 years. But right now, our focus should be on how to improve the amenities till the new bus stand takes shape,” Roland
added.
He said the depot manager has been told to display the complaint register at the counter to facilitate passengers to lodge their complaints.
“There’s no sense in keeping the complaint register inside the booth,” he added.
