BELAGAVI
Commuters between Goa, Kolhapur, and Belagavi travelling via Tillari Ghat have been disappointed as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) authorities have further delayed the commencement of bus services to Goa and Konkan via this route.
The MSRTC authorities, who had inspected the Tillari Ghat last week after some major repairs, were to restart this vital bus service soon after the inspection.
However, citing some trivial reasons, the bus service has once again been postponed, to the disappointment of commuters from three states. The MSRTC authorities have now demanded the installation of convex mirrors at sharp turns.
It may be recalled that the movement of buses was banned for buses and other heavy vehicles since July last year in the wake of heavy monsoons and rising accidents.
In February, the PWD authorities had closed the route for over a fortnight for the construction of a gabion wall at an accident-prone sharp curve. The work was completed in the first week of March, after which the movement of light vehicles gradually resumed.
The bus service on this route was stopped on another ground: that heavy vehicles were causing accidents, especially during the monsoon. It was also said that a protective wall should be constructed at some dangerous turns. Accordingly, the construction department completed the work.
“After the construction of the gabion wall, the MSRTC authorities had sent a bus from the Kolhapur Division, and a survey was conducted. The authorities were satisfied and said the bus services would resume immediately. However, they have demanded the setting up of convex mirrors at every turn and reflector paints. This will be done immediately, considering the inconvenience faced by commuters,” PWD engineer Veerkumar Shinde said.
Meanwhile, people in the region have expressed strong anger against the delay caused by the MSRTC authorities of the Kolhapur Division.
“Even though the ghat was in a dilapidated condition, there was a regular bus service for over 40 years. In the last few years, the ghat has been in much better condition, so there should be no problem for the authorities to restart the bus services via this route. If ST buses cannot ply, then traffic from Tillari Ghat should be stopped permanently,” Babu Sequeira, a regular traveller to Goa via this route, said, expressing the anguish of many travellers like him.
Meanwhile, MSRTC authorities have said that every attempt is being made to restart the bus service via Tillari. However, uncertainty prevails as thousands of commuters are left in the lurch, especially during this peak travelling season.
