If you live in Velim and usethe public transport system then working overtime for some extra bucks orworking on a late shift is out of bounds.
Even kids from the villagewho go to Margao for tuitions and extra-curricular activities have to head homeby 6.30 pm.
A quiet hamlet, Velim is just15 kms away from Margao. But it’s the last village after Navelim, Chinchinim,Dramapur, Sirlim and Assolna and therefore the villagers more often than nothave to deal with packed buses.
“The 15 km journey usuallytakes fifteen minutes from Margao on a two-wheeler or four-wheeler. But in abus it takes over forty minutes to traverse the same distance. To make mattersworse, the last bus out of the village is at 6 pm while the last bus in, is at6.30 pm," said Desmond Dias, who lives at Colaco waddo.
If you need to travel toVelim after 6.30 pm the only way is to take a Cuncolim-bound bus or Canacona-boundbus and walk to Velim from neighbouring villages of Assolna or Cuncolim which isgood three kilometer walk. The other option is to take a rick from the swankyCuncolim bus-stand which will cost you Rs 120.
“There are so many starredhotels on the other side of River Sal in Varca, Cavelossim and Mobor. But ourboys from Velim cannot go across to work there because of the poor transportsystem. Even the ferry service from Assolna closes down early. The newCavelossim-Assolna bridge could bring some cheer to the village,” statedShakespeare Colaco, a noted French teacher in the village.
