PANAJI
Four years ago, a private bus was reversing at the KTC bus stand in Panaji when it crushed two persons to death and caused injuries to three persons.
Despite that tragedy and repeated pleas for safety measures at the bus stand, the situation has almost remained the same at the main bus stand in the Capital City.
“The bus stand is still unsafe for passengers, especially elderly people, women, children and physically challenged persons,” says Namdev, a local motorcycle taxi pilot at the bus stand.
Namdev, who has been noticing people struggle on a daily basis while moving in the bus stand, added: “As the number of people travelling increases every year, facilities and empty spaces at these bus stands are shrinking.”
The Goa consumer action forum GOACAN, civil society and activists have already been fighting a legal battle against a tea stall which has been erected in the space earmarked for people movement.
A zebra-crossing has not been properly marked at the bus stand and when asked about this, KTC officials said the zebra-crossing thermoplastic paint contract has been already allotted and will be done shortly.
KTC officers attributed the delay in painting to the Covid pandemic.
“There is only one contractor in Goa who has the expertise in thermoplastic painting and he couldn't complete the work,” said a KTC officer.
However, GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins, who has been pursuing the matting in the Road Safety Council meeting and other forums has a different view.
"After the GOACAN demanded a zebra-crossing to be repainted due to the accident on February 17, 2018, KTC repainted the narrow zebra-crossing only once and that too, with cheap paint in February 2020. As the zebra-crossing was narrow, buses continued stopping on it and some were even parked on the zebra-crossing,” said Martins.
“This zebra-crossing paint did not last as it was not done with thermoplastic paint, which is the required procedure,” he added.
Martins has demanded a broader zebra-crossing with thermoplastic paint.
"The original zebra-crossing which was painted when the bus stand was inaugurated was as broad as the green overhead shades and it was painted with thermoplastic paint,” he said.
