BJP, opposition MLAs redflag KTC services

Porvorim: In an unusual display of cross-party consensus, BJP MLAs joined opposition members in the state legislative assembly on Thursday to lambast transport minister Mauvin Godinho over the deteriorating public bus services. MLAs, particularly from the hinterland, described it as a transport system that broke down, leaving rural communities stranded.

The criticism, voiced during the discussion on the demand for grants for the transport department, was notable for the fact that several MLAs, including BJP legislators, directed their fire squarely at govt.

Poriem MLA Deviya Rane laid out the most detailed indictment of the situation, revealing that the Kadamba Transport Corporation currently operates 480 diesel buses and 123 electric buses, of which 48 EVs run exclusively within Panaji. With 150 buses set to be scrapped in the coming year, she said that the net shortage would be severe. “Considering the buses to be scrapped and the increasing demand from educational institutions, the state requires 250 to 300 buses in total. Even if govt procures the 137 buses promised in the budget, there will be a significant shortage,” she said, urging the minister to treat the procurement of the remaining buses as a top priority.

Asking the transport minister to pay immediate attention, Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye said, “Bus stands and transportation are the concerns of the common man. There is no point talking about high-end things if the basic necessities are not taken care of.”

Mayem MLA Premendra Shet said he repeatedly raised the issue of rural transport connectivity in the assembly without any result. “Till today, this facility has not improved. The number of buses that need to be made available in our villages have not been provided,” he said.

Independent MLA from Curtorim Reginaldo Lourenco highlighted the problem of irregular evening services on the Margao-Curtorim route and urged KTC to operate buses on that corridor which are currently not running. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas from Benaulim said his coastal constituency was served by a single route, and that the department cited lack of demand as the reason for not adding more services.

Congress MLA for Quepem, Altone D’Costa, said he demanded additional buses for four years and received just one out of the seven he requested. “The poor people are struggling. I don’t know where the transport department is heading. Everyone is facing trouble because of the Kadamba buses, it is the major source of transportation,” he said.

Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira urged govt to restore older diesel buses and withdraw the e-buses in the state. He alleged that the new e-buses cause discomfort to passengers due to excessive vibration and noise. He said that several scheduled trips are frequently cancelled due to a lack of vehicles or drivers, leaving commuters stranded.

The breadth of the criticism spanning constituencies from the north to the south underlined what legislators spoke about at every assembly session.

“Public transport on internal routes is required. This govt talks about ‘antoday’ but govt is unable to ensure that people can use public transport to reach their home,” said Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.