CANACONA
Claiming that people, especially senior citizens and students, have been facing hardships due to suspension of buses along the Maxem-Poinguinim-Bhatpal route of NH66 in Canacona, Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari has demanded KTC shuttle services for the affected people along the route.
Bhandari along with some Congress workers from Canacona submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Secretary through the KTC managing director in Panaji on Monday.
According to Bhandari, the repairs to the Ordhfond bridge for the last two weeks has not only led to suspension of heavy traffic, it has also brought to a halt public transportation and caused difficulties for people from Poinguinim, Partagal, Ordhafond, Bhatpal and Shrishthal.
“In the absence of public transportation since the past two weeks, these residents are forced to walk kilometres together to visit hospital, doctors, markets and back to their residences.”
“Due to present repair works on the Ordhfond bridge, half of the bridge is closed for vehicular traffic, preventing big buses from plying along the Polem-Canacona route of NH66 via Poinguinim.”
“These works may go on for months and it is unacceptable to inconvenience people from these localities (Sheller, Khalwadem, Shrishthal, Bhatpal, Ordhfond, Partagal, Poinguinim, Caroi and Maxem) for such a long period,” stated Bhandari.
“We request the government to coordinate with KTC and issue directions to start shuttle service with mini-buses between Canacona and Polem. Daily shuttle service may not solve the problem, but that will at least ease the problem faced by people to some extent.”
Later speaking to The Goan, Bhandari said: “We have demanded immediate commencement of shuttle service and authorities have three days to act in this matter, failing which we may have to resort to strong measures to push the authorities to act.”
“We have demanded an alternative to solve the problems faced by people. While repairs works are also needed, the government must also address the concerns of the people,” Bhandari added.
