MAPUSA
Within a week of Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) installing metallic fencing with revolving gates on the eastern side of the Mapusa bus stand, miscreants have uprooted and dumped one of the gates, raising serious concerns over pedestrian safety and the protection of public property.
The damaged revolving gate was located at a passage frequently misused by two-wheeler riders as a shortcut to enter and exit the bus stand, bypassing the main entrance.
The passage was meant exclusively for pedestrians but had increasingly become a thoroughfare for motorbikes.
The movement of two-wheelers through the narrow passage poses a direct threat to women, children and senior citizens who use it to access the bus stand. Pedestrians have repeatedly objected to bikes entering the area, stating that sudden movement of two-wheelers hampers free movement and creates a constant sense of danger.
Residents and commuters say the dismantling of the gate appears to be a deliberate attempt to continue illegal access. “This was the only barrier preventing two-wheelers from entering a pedestrian zone. Its removal puts lives at risk,” a frequent commuter said.
Consumer forum GOACAN has strongly condemned the act and urged KTCL to take strict action to prevent two-wheelers from entering the bus stand premises.
“KTCL must go to the root of the issue and identify those responsible for damaging the revolving gate. Unless accountability is fixed, such incidents will keep recurring. A proper system must be put in place to protect pedestrians,” said Roland Martins, coordinator of GOACAN.
Confirming the incident, KTCL engineer Amey Goankar said a police complaint has been lodged at the Mapusa Police Station for damage to public property.
“We have filed a complaint, and it is now for the police to take the necessary action,” Goankar said.
He added that the corporation is considering alternative mechanisms to replace the damaged gate and ensure that two-wheelers are permanently barred from entering the bus stand through pedestrian passages.
KTCL officials indicated that stricter physical barriers and monitoring systems are being explored to prevent further misuse and safeguard commuters, particularly vulnerable sections of the public.
