the goan I network
PANAJI
With almost a year since the major fire broke out at the Panaji bus terminus, the state of the bus stand is as bad as it was with Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited and other shop owners failing to comply with the recommendations made by the Fire Department.
In a damning audit report, the Fire Department has pointed that the KTCL is playing with the safety of thousands of commuters and that not a single step had been taken to make the building safe.
A major fire broke out at KTC bus terminus building on January 2, 2017, resulting in property loss and panic amongst shop owners and commuters.
This terminus is an important public building and has 44 shops which includes a canteen, bank, ATM, jewellery, gift, garment, book stall etc and four government offices on the first floor. Also, the external area has around 80 shops.
The Fire Department had conducted an audit a day after the fire incident (January 3, 2017) and the report was immediately submitted to the KTCL. Copies were also sent to Chief Secretary, Additional Secretary, District Magistrate, Director of Transport and Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji.
But shockingly, in a joint inspection carried out by District Safety Council on November 13 this year, fire personnel said not a single step had been taken to make the building safe. “The state of the bus terminus is as bad as it was last year”, an official said.
The report points out that wiring cables in the terminus were dangerously mixed with other cables and that substandard material was used for wiring.
AUDIT REPORT OBSERVATIONS
State of the bus terminus is as bad as it was last year
Wiring cables mixed with other cables; substandard material used for wiring
Cables haphazardly routed through shops & offices
Junction boxes, cable joints exposed and pose high risk to commuters
KTCL must conduct electrical safety audit through third party
Commercial establishments using batteries in unsafe manner
Unsafe practice of using, storing LPG cylinders still being continued at the canteen and by hotel owners
