In absence of proper lighting and security personnel, theKTC bus stand in Canacona has become a happy ground for anti-social elements.
Men and women with shady character taking advantage of poorlighting frequent the bus stand and indulge in immoral activities during thenight.
“A lot of men andwomen make their way to the bus stand during the night, on the pretext oftaking shelter. However, their actual purpose is to engage in flesh trade,”said Sapnesh Desai, panch of Agonda village panchayat.
According to the shopkeepers at the bus stand, most of thosewho engage in immoral activities are outstation vendors, gypsy class people(lamanis) and the labour class. The frequency of people visiting the bus standin the night increases on Saturdays, which is the market day, and on Sundays,the shopkeepers added.
When the Rs 3 crore KTC bus stand of Canacona wasinaugurated, it had all the modern facilities with proper lighting and staff tomaintain the bus stand.
Now the condition of the bus stand has deteriorated and itneeds urgent attention of the authorities. The pay toilet in the complex is notbeing maintained properly and most of the time the taps run dry causingtremendous hardship to the users. “Many times commuters go to the bushesadjacent to the bus stand to answer the nature’s call,” a local school teacher,Govind Phrabhu Gaonkar disclosed.
Stray cattle also make their way to the bus stand and areseen sited at the bus stand day and night. The entire bus stand is litteredwith cow’s dung and urine giving the place a dirty look. Shopkeepers too have aharrowing time as they have to clean their shop fronts almost every morning.
The maintenance of the bus stand has not been undertaken fora long time. The sheets on the roof have not been painted since its inaugural.
Fifty percent of space meant for car-parking is now beingoccupied by vegetable vendors without the knowledge of bus stand depot incharge. “Two-wheelers riders have been parking their vehicles in a haphazardmanner, thereby hindering their movement at the bus stand,” informed SoccoroFernandes, Principal of Vividha Commercial Institute, Chaudi.
In a startling revelation the bus stand in charge KushaliPagi disclosed that the security personnel stopped working, as they were notpaid their monthly wages. He however refused to comment on other issues.
