MAPUSA
The fleet of outstation buses parked at the new inter-state bus stand in Mapusa indicated the extent of the rush of tourists to the State on the eve of the New Year.
On Sunday evening (January 1), the bus stand witnessed chaotic scenes as the tourists made a beeline to the bus depot to return to their home state.
An official of the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) informed that around 95 buses were parked inside the bus stand on Saturday while at least another 70 buses which needed space to park had to be turned back due to lack of space.
The presence of so many buses created a logistical problem as the drivers and the cleaners made the bus stand their home in the intervening night.
Sources informed that the toilets at the bus stand are shut at 11 pm which reopens only the next morning.
With no place to ease themselves, the drivers and cleaners of 95 buses converted the periphery of the bus stand into an open toilet.
The two people who sported smiling faces at the inter-state bus stand were the parking and canteen contractors who made the best of the opportunity.
The bus stand which normally remains idle on other days was roaring with activity on December 31 and the first day of the New Year.
