MARGAO
GOACAN has knocked the doors of the South Goa district Collector underscoring the need to crack down on the misbehaviour by city bus personnel at KTC Margao bus stand as well as enroute.
In a letter, GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins drew attention of the district Collector to the news report carried out by The Goan titled “Conductors jostle daily for bus customers at Aquem bus stand”, by pointing out similar misbehaviour by these city bus conductors can be seen at the Margao KTC bus stand.
“On any given day one can see this happening, where passengers who alight from the shuttles coming from Panaji and Vasco city face the similar ordeal. Moreover the bus drivers even seek to block the passengers by bringing these 'city buses' in reverse so that the conductors can grab the passengers”, Martins stated.
Saying that the contents of the news report clearly point out that there are violations of the Bus Permit Conditions stipulated by the Directorate of Transport as well as this misbehaviour amounts to a deficiency of service under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Martins has offered a couple of suggestions if this misbehaviour has to stop.
He has suggested designating a bus bay at Margao KTC bus stand for buses operating as "city buses", so that they leave from a fixed point. “This will stop these buses from crisscrossing the bus stand all the time. Moreover, in this way it will make it easier for locals / tourists to find these buses, especially those who wish to use these buses to go to the Konkan Railway Station Margao via Aquem”, he added.
Calling for issuing a sticker with the wording "MARGAO CITY BUS" for these buses, he said this will help to monitor the trips by the Directorate of Transport MV Inspectors and the Traffic Police officials. “3. Regular checks must be undertaken of these buses for wearing Uniforms by the Conductors & Drivers, compliance of designated Reserved Seats, display of Fare Table, issue of Bus Tickets and other requirements as per the Permit Conditions”, he further suggested.
While calling for implementing the pending proposal of the electric bus shuttle service from Margao KTC Bus Stand to Konkan Railway Station Margao from 6pm to 10pm as already proposed in the meetings of the District Road Safety Committee and District Consumer Protection Council, GOACAN has called for convening a meeting of the officials of the Directorate of Transport, Traffic Police, KTCL, Department of Tourism, KRCL and Department of Consumer Affairs to review the issues related to this city bus route.
