MARGAO
Daily commuters to the commercial capital by city buses from the outskirts have a simple question to ask the government and the authorities “ will there be any improvement of the dilapidated bus shelter at Margao’s iconic bus stand in the ensuing monsoons or will they have to contend with the shabby conditions during the rains for yet another year?
Well, a visit to the bus shelter tucked away at the corner of the iconic bus stand revealed the shabby conditions. A year after the dilapidated conditions hit the headlines when rainwater seepage was literally the order of the day, there seemed no change in the ground reality to date. No benches have fallen in place inside the narrow shelter yet, with passengers as well as bus drivers and conductors sitting on the side wall amid dry leaves and mud.
Branches of an adjoining huge tree are virtually hanging over the bus shelter, with the leaves clogging the gutter for the water to drain out. Waste has been found burnt right inside the bus shelter, indicating the dry leaves and trash is being disposed of by burning.
A couple of commuters travelling to the city by buses operating from the old Margao bus stand wondered why the authorities are paying no attention to the bus shelter by refurbishing the shed.
“We take cover inside the bus shelter when the bus does not come on time. But we avoid seating inside the shelter on the narrow wall given its present condition. The situation is worse during the monsoons as the mud slurry and waste slide down on the wall inside which doubles up as a bench cum wall,” remarked a lady commuter from Borda.
She added: “When Goa boasts about its splendid performance on various social indicators, it is indeed sad that the bus shelter at the iconic bus stand has not received the attention it deserves for reasons best known to the authorities.”
Another commuter from Raia echoed similar sentiments by seeking to know from the government and authorities about the utter neglect of the bus shelter at the old bus stand.
Bus drivers and conductors also lamented the sorry state of the bus shelter: “We take shelter in the bus shed because of the sweltering heat. In monsoons, we are forced to avoid taking rest at the shelter since there is virtually no protection from rain,” informed a bus conductor.
The Margao old bus stand lost its importance after the government notified the KTC bus stand in the mid-80s. However, the bus stand is still being used by buses operating to and fro the neighbouring villages of Raia, Shiroda and Betalbatim, besides Borda, Fatorda etc and the commercial capital.
An inspection of the old bus stand shelter a couple of months ago had brought to the fore its pitiable condition. Things, however, have not seen a turnaround for the last one year for reasons best known to the authorities. The fate of the recommendations made during the inspections to bring about a turnaround remains unknown.
“We have found many inspections taking place over the years, but the shelter is craving basic amenities,” rued a commuter.
The Margao bus stand is owned by the Municipal Council. In the past, the Margao civic body had drawn up plans to set up a multi-level parking lot by maintaining the bus stand on the ground floor.
