BJP government plans to buy new buses while KTCL is in the red: Siddesh Bhagat*
Kadamba buses have been experiencing frequent breakdowns, leading to delays that have frustrated passengers who rely solely on the state transportation. Thus, AAP demanded that the Goa government, like the AAP government in Delhi, must make it mandatory for employees of Kadamba Corporation and the transport department to travel by bus at least once a week to eliminate delays and improve services.
AAP Goa Vice President and AAP Youth Wing National Vice President Cecille Rodrigues has called for the government to introduce Pink buses for women in an effort to make the public transport safe for them.
Rodrigues also mentioned that the Kadamba drivers do not have seat belts on the old Kadamba buses. “Where is the safety measures for the KTCL employees”, she asked.
While addressing the press conference on Wednesday at the Party’s Panaji office, Rodrigues said, “The transport corporation in Delhi has asked government employees to travel at least once a week on DTC buses to provide feedback to the Delhi transport corporation about the arrangement and facilities of the bus”.
Adding she said, “The Delhi government has asked them to give feedback on the issues such as general cleanliness and maintenance of buses, availability of Marshal in the bus, behaviour of driver and conductor, observing of Bus Lane Discipline by the Driver, stopping of bus at designated bus stop, issue of over speeding/ Dangerous driving/ overtaking by the Driver and bus availability on time”.
Siddesh Bhagat, National Vice President of AAP Youth Wing stated that the despite providing free travel to women and senior citizens, the AAP government’s DTC made a profit in Delhi whereas in Goa during the last 10 years, KTCL has incurred losses of more than Rs. 100 crores.
Bhagat explained, “KTCL’s revenue in 2019 was around 200 crores, in 2020 it reached around 204 crores, and in 2021 it came down to 150 crores. KTCL’s expenses in 2019 were around 224 crores, in 2020 they were 217 crores, and in 2021 they were 158 crores. This indicates KTCL incurred a loss of 23 crores rupees in 2019, 12 crores in 2020, and 7.5 crores in 2021″.
He further said that even after spending crores of rupees by Corporation Kadamba buses have been experiencing breakdowns. Despite their inability to maintain the existing buses, currently the state government is in the process of lobbying with the Centre for nearly 1,200 electric buses to add to the existing fleet of 50 such buses in the state.
If private buses are required to pass an annual fitness test by a RTO than why doesn’t this apply to Kadamba? If they are doing fitness test of buses then why are these buses experiencing breakdowns?”, questioned Bhagat.
*Furthermore, the AAP Goa Youth President Adv. Anoop Kudtarkar demanded that all Pan Masala ads on KTC buses be immediately removed, failing which AAP would take agitation to the streets.*
Kudtarkar said, “Pan Masala Ad is a surrogate advertisement for Gutka, whose sale is prohibited. KTC busses with such ads run in densely populated areas as well as in rural areas. Numerous such buses can be seen in the Cujira Educational complex, which houses four top schools on Panaji, where thousands of children study”.
“Ads for Pan Masala are done by Bollywood celebrities and famous film stars who have a large fan base and following, especially among children and youth. It cannot be ruled out that children and youth might imitate and consume such Pan Masala and Tobacco products”, he added.
