PANAJI: Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has announced that Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) will be fully digital by January 2026. The plan includes a single smart transit card for cashless travel, real-time bus tracking through a Vehicle Location Tracking System (VLTS), and an Integrated Depot Management System (IDMS) to improve operational efficiency across the network.
Speaking at KTCL’s 45th anniversary celebrations in Panaji, the minister said, “Today, digitalization is the future, and Kadamba cannot lag behind. We are introducing smart cards, electronic tracking machines, and app-based services so that passengers can travel without cash and track buses in real time.”
Godinho added that KTCL will implement the IDMS to track inventory such as screws, tires, and spare parts, monitor vehicle failures, and identify causes to improve efficiency. He also noted that work on geo-mapping of bus lots is ongoing to better manage resources.
The minister highlighted the benefits for passengers, saying many have already started using the smart buses under the Smart City initiative, which are smooth, quiet, and air-conditioned. “By January, people will be able to track buses on their mobile phones and see exactly when the next one is arriving,” he said, emphasizing that the initiative has full support from the KTCL board and will transform public transport in Goa.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was also part of the event, confirmed the move, saying, “Kadamba will soon launch a single smart transit card for all buses across Goa, making travel cashless and digital. The Vehicle Location Tracking System will also be implemented, allowing passengers to track buses in real time.”
Sawant further assured that all pending dues of retired and existing KTCL employees will be cleared within the next three months. “We had earlier released 50 percent of the arrears. I now assure you that the balance dues will also be settled within one, two, or three months,” he said.
The Chief Minister hailed KTCL as the “lifeline of Goa.” “Kadamba has played an important role in connecting both rural and urban areas of the State. Even during the Covid pandemic, KTCL buses ensured the movement of frontline workers and essential supplies. This shows how much the people depend on Kadamba,” Sawant added.
The CM also announced a half-ticket fare scheme for women employed in the private sector, noting that the KTCL MD is in the process of formulating it and it will be implemented soon.
KTCL Chairman Ulhas Tuenkar highlighted the corporation’s growth and fleet modernization. “Although KTCL is not a profit-making corporation, the government ensures that our staff salaries of Rs 11 crore are paid before the 10th of every month. An additional Rs 8 crore was released towards provident fund parity, and support has been extended for new fleet procurement,” he said.
Tuenkar added that the corporation plans to replace nearly 280 buses due for scrapping by 2027 with new electric and luxury buses. “We already have 150 EVs and 48 Smart City buses on the roads. With government schemes like Maji Bus, private operators are also being encouraged to join the network through subsidies and incentives,” he noted.
