The existing bus stand site.
MARGAO
Crying foul over the manner in which the Transport Department is proceeding with the redevelopment of the KTC Margao bus stand, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has alleged that the tender floated by the government appears to prioritize the development of shopping malls and hotels over addressing the core objective of constructing a modern and efficient bus terminal to serve the growing transport needs of the people of Margao, Salcete, and South Goa at large.
Emphasizing that the KTC bus stand is located within the Fatorda constituency, Sardesai issued a stern warning to the government, stating that neither he nor the people of Fatorda will remain silent spectators to any attempt to divert prime public land for commercial exploitation, while relegating the public transport infrastructure to the background.
He wondered whether the long-standing dream of the people of Salcete will be fulfilled if prime land admeasuring 30,000 square meters is allotted to a private player to set up shopping malls and hotels in lieu of building the bus stand.
“Take note, it’s now just the bidder will get 30,000 square metres to develop as per the concession agreement. During my stint as TCP Minster, I had got the FAR increased to 300 for the benefit of the government. But, going by the tender documents, the government has proposed to allocate 30,000 square metres out of the total 62,350 square metres to the private bidder under the PPP mode for development. This will defeat the very purpose of the development of the bus stand”, he added.
That’s not all. While saying the government intends to allocate 30,000 square metres of land to the bidder, the Fatorda MLA said the bus infrastructure has been compromised as is evident by the fact that the proposal has envisaged parking for only 150 vehicles when it ought to have been 250 buses.
He further said the concessionaire will run and maintain the proposed bus port for only 35 years, but will be running the business complex for 60 long years.
“I had raised the issue in the Assembly on July 28, 2025 when Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said he would consult Margao MLA Digambar Kamat while finalising the project without realising that the bus stand falls in Fatorda. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had then assured to take me and the stakeholders into confidence before finalising the project”, he said.
Saying the government has not been taken into confidence before floating the tender, Sardesai has warned that he and the people of Fatorda will oppose the project tooth and nail if any attempt is made to bulldoze project against the wishes of the people.
