MMC claims 70 gaddas at site, but survey shows only a few; civic chief disputes figure shown in agenda, says no final decision yet; council to meet on Friday
Margao’s Old Bus Stand is proposed to be developed and beautified, with provisions to rehabilitate gaddas/handcarts.
MARGAO
Margao’s iconic Old Bus Stand, once the lifeline of public transport for Madgavkars and Saxttikars before the commissioning of the KTC Bus Stand at Fatorda nearly four decades ago, has once again come into public focus. This time, it’s not for transportation — but for redevelopment.
The Margao Municipal Council (MMC), in collaboration with the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), has proposed to develop the prime real estate located in the heart of the commercial capital. The proposal includes provisions for parking and the rehabilitation of existing gaddas (handcarts) at the site.
What has raised eyebrows within civic corridors is the Council’s stated claim that 70 gaddas currently occupy the Old Bus Stand — a number many believe is vastly inflated.
A glance at the agenda of the upcoming MMC meeting, scheduled for Friday, confirms the Council’s plan: “There exists an Old Bus Stand at Margao, wherein there are 70 numbers of gaddas in the property situated at the bus stand.” The document further states, “The meeting held with the Chief Minister during his recent visit to the Collectorate to review various developmental works in the Margao constituency has recommended that the GSIDC shall take up the work of development of the Old Bus Stand with parking and rehabilitation of the existing gadda/ handcart, etc.”
However, a ground-level visit to the Old Bus Stand paints a different picture. Only a handful of gaddas are presently visible — some opposite the Margao police station and others along both sides of the old bus shelter. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns over the basis of the Council’s planning data.
It also remains unclear whether MMC intends to rehabilitate fast food handcarts, even though licence conditions mandate that these handcarts be towed away to the owner’s residence after business hours.
Beyond the gaddas, a broader and more pressing issue looms: Has the Council adequately factored the area already stressed parking infrastructure? The Old Bus Stand is surrounded by high-density establishments including the Goa Police District Headquarters, city schools, Gomant Vidya Niketan, and other key institutions — all of which suffer from an acute lack of designated parking.
When The Goan contacted Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar to shed light on the proposal to rehabilitate the 70 gaddas/ handcarts on the Old Bus Stand, he disputed the number, demanding to know how the media has arrived at the figure of 70 gaddas/ handcarts. When his attention was drawn to the meeting agenda circulated amongst the councillors ahead of the meeting, Damu asserted that the figure does not reflect the exact proposal. “Nothing has been decided on the proposal. We are taking up the issue of beautification and development of the Old Bus Stand. How many gaddas will be rehabilitated and what projects will come up on the land will be discussed at the Council meeting,” he added.
No clarity yet on mini-buses at bus stand
Questions are indeed raised whether these buses will continue to operate from the Old Bus Stand or will be told to operate from the KTC bus stand.
For the moment, there is no clarity on the fate of the buses using the old Margao bus stand. But, MMC officials in the know say that the Council will take a call on the future of the bus stand considering that the buses are required to ply from the KTC bus stand.
Exactly a year ago, at a meeting with senior government officials at the South Goa district Collectorate, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat had instructed the officials to lay their hands on the government notification de-notifying the Margao Old Bus Stand.
