MAPUSA
Businessmen operating shops and commercial establishments in the Mapusa Municipal Council premises facing the Mapusa bus stand have expressed concern and agitation over the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited’s (KTCL) decision to fence the bus stand “ a move that, while long pending, has sparked fears of loss of livelihood.
The unease surfaced after KTCL began digging pits to install a barbed-wire fence around the bus stand. Although the proposed fencing is not a concrete compound wall, shopkeepers claim the sudden execution of the decision has left them anxious about reduced footfall and declining business.
“We have been doing business here for more than a decade. If access from the bus stand is blocked, we will be the biggest losers. Most of our customers come directly from the bus stand,” said a distressed shopkeeper.
Another businessman criticised the authorities for failing to consult stakeholders before commencing the work.
“All of us depend on pedestrians who cross over from the bus stand. At the very least, we should have been taken into confidence and briefed about the plans,” he said.
Following the commencement of the work, several shopkeepers approached the Mapusa Municipal Council and the local MLA seeking intervention.
Longstanding issues
The Mapusa bus stand, operated by KTCL, has frequently been in the news for the wrong reasons.
The absence of clearly demarcated boundaries or a compound wall over the years has resulted in unchecked movement and a range of civic issues, including piled-up garbage, unauthorised parking, open urination, and other illegal activities.
Consumer forum GOACAN has repeatedly raised concerns over the prevailing conditions at the bus stand.
“The decision to fence the bus stand while keeping appropriate access points is long pending and necessary,” said Roland Martins, Coordinator of GOACAN. “However, the authorities should have involved stakeholders “ in this case, the shopkeepers “ before implementing the decision,” he added.
KTCL clarifies stand
KTCL officials, meanwhile, have clarified that the fencing will be metallic and not a concrete wall, and that adequate entry and exit points will be provided for commuters.
“We are fencing our property, but we will ensure proper passages for people to move in and out of the bus stand. The shopkeepers have also been briefed about the plan,” a KTCL official said, requesting anonymity.
While KTCL maintains that fencing the bus stand is essential to curb illegalities and improve management of the public facility, shopkeepers argue that their concerns stem from the fear of losing daily income.
Observers note that while the transport corporation’s move is legally and administratively justified, the anxieties of small business owners “ whose livelihoods depend heavily on commuter traffic “ also warrant sensitive handling to prevent the issue from escalating into a larger humanitarian concern.
