KTC to operate services on behalf of IPSCDL; 57 pvt bus permit holders put on notice
PANAJI
The State government has mooted a proposal to nationalise all city bus routes in Panaji as well as routes from the capital to its suburbs like St Cruz, Taleigao, Bambolim and Dona Paula by January 19 next year and put 57 permit holders who are currently operating on notice.
The city bus service under the ‘Smart City Mission’ will be operated by the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) for the IPSCDL with new large electric buses (49 seaters), diesel-powered mini buses (30 seaters), electrical mini buses (26 seaters), electrical micro buses (14 seaters) and electric buggies (11 seaters).
This transport service proposal is contained in an elaborate notification issued by Transport Director, P Pravimal Abhishek, IAS, in which he has specified that the standard fares proposed to be charged are Rs 10 and Rs 20, depending on whether the bus is air-conditioned and luxury or not.
Abhishek also states in the notification that the fares will be as specified by IPSCDL, virtually handing over the powers to determine fares to the special purpose vehicle company set up by the State government for implementing the ‘Smart City’ project.
The proposal also identifies seven routes, the first from the KTC bus stand and coming into the city via Paryatan Bhavan, Azad Maidan, Kala Academy, Caculo circle at St Inez and back to the bus stand via the Immaculate Church and Patto Circle.
The second route is from the Panaji bus stand to Bambolim (Goa University) via the GHSSIDC headquarters, St Cruz Church, Goa Medical College, Goa University, NIO ciricle at Dona Paula, Miramar, Kala Academy, Divja
Circle and back to Panaji bus stand.
The third route is from the Panaji municipal market via Miramar, Caranzalem, Taleigao, Caculo Mall and to Parade Ground.
The fourth route initiates at the Panaji bus stand and enters the city via the multi-level car park, Old Secretariat to Doordarshan and Joggers Park in Altinho and back down to the city via the Factories & Boilers department down -to the St Inez circle near Taj Vivanta and proceeding to Kala Academy and back to the bus stand via the Divja circle.
The fifth route again originates at Panaji’s CCP market and heads to St Cruz via the Caculo Mall, Madhuban apartments, Bhatulem, St Cruz Church, GMC and Cujira.
The sixth route originates again at the Panaji bus-stand and heads to Nevginagar further proceeding towards Bhatulem, TB Hospital and back into the city through the internal road at the St Inez (Taj Vivanta) circle, Panaji CCP market and to the DB Marg and back to the bus stand via the Divja circle.
The final seventh route originates at the bus-stand and heads to Nevginagar further proceeding to TB Hospital at Bhatulem, Shankar Devasthan, Taleigao, St Cruz and back to the Panaji bus-stand via the Four Pillars, Mary Immaculate Girls High School and Patto Circle.
State-of-the-art bus shelters and bus stops are proposed where information related to the routes and trips will be available digitally. The proposal also mentions that there will be public announcement system (PAS) in the buses which will be line tracked while moving on the routes as well as at the bus shelters.
The facility of QR Code ticketing and digital tickets on mobiles will also be available to the commuter, it adds.
