PANAJI
NGO GOACAN has urged the Enforcement Wing of the Transport Department to make public transport more senior citizen-friendly by increasing reserved seats in buses from two to five.
Speaking to the media after submitting a representation to Assistant Director of Transport Cedric Souza, GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins led a delegation seeking to prioritise the safety and convenience of senior citizens in public transportation.
“Public transport must be senior citizen-friendly, adhering to the principles of comfortable, affordable, safe and efficient. We request that reserved seating for senior citizens in all buses be increased from two to five seats,” he said. The delegation also called for the restoration of exclusive ramps for the elderly and physically challenged and the central zebra crossing at the KTC bus stand in Panaji.
In addition to these, the delegation also sought to conduct a review of bus routes to identify available slots and propose suitable changes in timing. They suggested providing a WhatsApp number and email address for senior citizens to file complaints, as well as maintaining a complaint book at all KTC bus stands in Goa. Furthermore, they recommended appointing a nodal officer to oversee complaints and make recommendations to the district committee for senior citizens.
In a separate representation to Urban Development, GOACAN sought to appoint a nodal officer for implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and Goa Rules 2009, encouraging municipal councils to facilitate registration of senior citizens by the beat police of the respective police station, organise mental health and geriatric care awareness camps in collaboration with IPHB and GMC; maintain parks and gardens as places for recreation and leisure for senior citizens, etc.
A similar recommendation was also made to the Panchayats Department wherein the delegation further sought to set up Panchayats Standing Committees for amenities and social justice among others.
