Passengers, operators slam deplorable condition of facility
CRATERED COMMUTE: The exit point of the Mapusa KTC bus-stand is riddled with massive potholes, making it a daily struggle for buses to navigate and for passengers to move safely.
MAPUSA
Even as the government boasts of transforming the Mapusa bus-stand into a state-of-the-art terminal, the ground reality tells a very different story.
The current state of the bus-stand is deplorable, with massive potholes, broken internal roads and poor infrastructure drawing sharp criticism from daily commuters, bus operators and residents.
The most glaring concern is the condition of the entry and exit points, which are riddled with deep potholes. Buses navigating these stretches face significant strain, often leading to mechanical breakdowns and increased maintenance costs.
“The entrance is a nightmare. Our buses are getting damaged every day due to these crater-sized potholes. Who is going to pay for the repairs? It seems no one from the authorities has bothered to even visit the site, let alone fix the problems,” said Santosh Naik, a private bus operator on the Mapusa-Panaji route.
Inside the bus-stand, the situation is no better. The internal roads are broken and uneven, further worsening the wear and tear on vehicles. Commuters, too, are bearing the brunt of the neglect.
“It is shocking that in 2025 we still have a major bus terminus in this kind of condition. The shelter is barely maintained, and there are stray dogs all over the place,” said Preeti Kamat, a resident from Siolim who uses the stand daily.
Social activists and local residents have also raised their voices, accusing the local MLA and government officials of ignoring the situation despite multiple complaints.
“The government speaks of world-class infrastructure, yet this is the state of one of North Goa’s busiest bus terminals. It is clear there is a complete lack of political will,” said Mapusa resident Sitesh More.
When contacted, officials from the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) acknowledged the poor condition of the bus-stand but assured that repair works are in the pipeline.
“We are aware of the concerns and agree that the current condition is not acceptable. The bus-stand is due for redevelopment as part of a larger modernisation plan. However, in the interim, we are working on carrying out urgent patchwork repairs at the entry and exit points,” said a KTC official on condition of anonymity.
Despite these assurances, locals remain sceptical, noting that similar promises have been made in the past without any tangible change.
Until the grand revamp materialises, the daily users of the Mapusa bus-stand will have to continue enduring the chaos, potholes and poor facilities that have turned a public utility into a public nuisance.
