Following the incident involving Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) staff illegally transporting liquor to Hyderabad in one of their buses, the KTC management has instructed all outstation bus passengers to undergo luggage checks before boarding at KTC bus stands. However, the handling of this operation was poorly executed, with searches conducted so aggressively that they resembled searches for illicit substances. Passengers were caught off guard, as KTC sends numerous pre-boarding messages without mentioning this restriction.
What's perplexing is that airlines allow 5 litres per passenger, railways permit at least 2 bottles with a permit from the Goa excise department, and private buses aren't subject to such checks. Why then should KTC subject passengers to such scrutiny before boarding? Even senior citizens and women are not spared, forced to open their suitcases and trolley bags in public, compromising their privacy, despite honestly declaring they don't have any alcohol.
It's nonsensical to assume that someone carrying 1 or 2 bottles of beer, wine, or Goa's Cashew Feni intends to sell them. Many Goans rely on relatives or friends in Mumbai for various reasons, carrying these items as gifts or gestures of gratitude. The sudden imposition of restrictions leaves innocent passengers with no choice but to abandon their bottles at the KTC bus stand.
The Goa Government should address this issue in line with policies for airline or train travel, allowing passengers to carry the permitted quantity for personal use with a valid permit.
