MARGAO
Does the Margao old bus stand qualify as a bus stand in the strict sense of the term, with the very bus shelter having no provision for the seating arrangement for the passengers, drivers and the conductors?
Inspection of the Margao old bus stand revealed the horrible state of affairs of the bus shelter at the old bus stand. Realization dawned on the inspection team, including officials of the Margao Municipal Council, the owner of the old bus stand and traffic police, that the bus shelter lacked seating arrangement.
That’s not all. The shelter almost doubles up for waste dumping as evident by the piled waste in the shelter, only throwing up a question of who is responsible for maintaining the old bus stand shelter meant for the passengers and the bus drivers and conductors alike.
After the inspection, it was decided that the seating area and shed meant for the passengers, drivers and conductors will be improved in consultation with the Directorate of Transport, Traffic Police and the Margao Municipal Council.
The inspection has further revealed that the Margao municipal officials were caught on the wrong foot not just on the maintenance of the bus shelter at the old bus stand, but on a host of issues, including the fast-food kiosks, which were all found at the bus stand in the morning when they ought to have been towed away by the owners.
A municipal official agreed that no fast-food kiosk can be found stationed at the old bus stand after business hours as per the conditions laid down in the trade license, throwing up a question of whether the MMC officials have turned a blind eye to the illegality.
Sources informed that the MMC had imposed a condition on the fast-food kiosks to move out of the old bus stand late in the evening after business hours so that the place can be used for vehicular parking in the morning and afternoon session.
