If you need to tarnish the image of beautiful Goa, you don’tneed to go far. Just hop on a bus and come to the Panjim bus stand.
Broken roads, haphazard parking, stinking garbage greet youas you step into the bus stand of the capital city of Goa.
The whole of Panjim bus stand is an ocean of pot holes. It hasalso become an open air urinal. Every corner of the bus stand has beenconverted into a garbage dump leaving a dirty stink around.
“The fault lies with the KTC management. There is sufficientplace for parking but no system is being followed either by the bus owners orthe people who park their vehicles on the stand,” said Suresh Borana, a shopkeeper at the bus stand. The CCP and KTC indulge in a blame game as there is nocoordination between them, he added.
The bus stand continues to be a nightmare for commuters whouse the public transport.
The commuters have been given a short shrift by theauthorities, as not attempts are being made to either repair or clean the busstand.
Businesswise, Panjim bus stand generates highest revenue forthe Kadamba Transport Corporation in the State.
It is not only the commuters who have to face the ignominyof a badly maintained bus stand. Bus operators face the heat too.
“Our main problem isthe huge pot holes dotting the bus stand. It is not only causing damage to ourbuses but also inconveniencing our passengers,” said Vijay Mahmal a private busowner. He further added that two wheelers parked near the Holy Cross chapelcause obstacles and even leads to accidents at times.
Illegal business activity also goes on at the bus stand asmany shop owners sub-let their premises. Around 70- 80% of shops are sub-let toothers which clearly indicate that there is no accountability. A shopkeeper at thebus stand disclosed that the shop belonged to some KTCL officer and that hisbrother was running it.
“The bus stand issituated in a low lying area due to which problems arise. We need plan a properdrainage system for the bus stand,” said Carlos Almedia, the chairman of KTCL. Wehave a proposal for renovation of the bus stand for Rs 1.8 crores. We havecalled for a meeting with the CCP to sort out the garbage problem, he added.
