PANAJI
With an aim to turn Goa into a Transport Hub, the Goa government has proposed Rs 306.09 crore for the Transport Department.
While reeling out a list of projects to enhance this sector, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant indicated that encouraging battery-operated Kadamba Transport Corporation buses will be among those initiatives to transform Goa into a transportation hub.
“A substantial financial provision of Rs. 306.09 crore has been made for the Transport Department. It is proposed to develop (Goa) as a transportation hub. The entire fleet of KTCL vehicles will be Battery Operated EVs which will bring positive change in the transportation system,” he said as he presented a comprehensive Budget for 2024-25 in the Goa Assembly on Thursday.
The CM further linked these initiatives with tourism stating that better transportation will promote quality tourism in Goa. In another move, Sawant added that his government has communicated with the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (Government of India) to provide Electric Buses for the State under the Gross Capital Contract Scheme. “We are optimistic to get an approval,” he added.
Sawant further hailed Chief Secretary Puneet Goel’s special attention in the sector stating that the government has in principle sanctioned Rs. 2,500 crore through the anticipated social impact fund of the Global IIT Alumni hub. Of this, Rs. 700 crore is the Viability Gap Grant Funding to the State.
Among other initiatives, the Budget speech included the redevelopment of the KTC Bus Stand at Bicholim, which the CM assured the House to complete by December 2024. The cost of this project is estimated around Rs. 20 crore.
A provision of Rs. 6.50 crore has also been made for the construction of bus stands in Vasco and Margao.
“To modernize the bus stands, we have decided to undertake transaction advisories on PPP basis as well as to add 50 buses on the inter-state route and beyond,” he added.
Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), Depot Management System, Document Management System, Command and Control Center are also planned at the Panaji bus stand.
