AERIAL VIEW
Of course, there are reports of these buses breaking down at several places, but those are isolated cases, and since it’s a machine, these minor niggles are bound to happen.
But as we praise the new recruits in KTC, the woes of the commuters on old buses still continue.
In the last few days, we have seen several accidents, the one at Porvorim near Mall de Goa was a shocker.
Sources said the accident was due to a brake failure. This is how the buses are maintained. There is no checking of brakes, diesel, or tyres as the buses run trips after trips.
The debt-ridden Kadamba Transport Corporation seems to have got a fresh lease of life with the infusion of electric buses.
Indeed, the travel by the new electric buses of the KTC from Panaji-Margao, Panaji-Vasco and many others have made the journeys more comfortable.
Of course, there are reports of these buses breaking down at several places, but those are isolated cases, and since it’s a machine, these minor niggles are bound to happen.
But as we praise the new recruits in KTC, the woes of the commuters on old buses still continue.
In the last few days, we have seen several accidents, the one at Porvorim near Mall de Goa was a shocker.
Sources said the accident was due to a brake failure. This is how the buses are maintained. There is no checking of brakes, diesel, or tyres as the buses run trips after trips.
The Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd. is a State Transport Undertaking of the state of Goa and heavily depends on the State government for funds. It was established in the year 1980 under the Companies Act, 1956 with the objective to provide safe, reliable, comfortable, punctual, effective and efficient passenger transport to the travelling public.
The KTC Ltd. has both Intra-state and intercity bus services to Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana routes. The Kadamba Transport Corporation operates 304 routes by its fleet through Volvo, Luxury, Semi Luxury and Electric A.C. buses.
The corporation Registered office is located at Paraiso de Goa, Alto Porvorim, Bardez Goa, 403521; the Corporation has major four depots at Margao, Panaji, Porvorim and Vasco, with a Central workshop at Porvorim.
Now, as we speak, one opines whether the electric buses will meet the same fate as the old ones after a few years? Are there any service workshops available? Are the vehicles appropriately maintained?
Why does the government, the Department of Transport, or the chairman appointed, fail to get the corporation into profit by maintaining the condition of the buses?
Last month, I happened to travel on the Bangalore-Goa KSRTC bus, a multi-axle sleeper bus, as I missed the flight and had to reach Goa early morning.
Surprisingly the bus was so neat and clean and had good blankets and charging points, and more importantly, there was no breakdown on the way. As we reached Goa, I asked the driver and conductor how the bus was maintained so well; they said the bus was two years old, but still, the workshop technicians and supervisors maintain it well, and the buses are washed and cleaned every day at the depot.
Is that the case with KTC? When were the KTC buses last washed and cleaned?
Getting only new buses will not solve the problem. Maintenance needs to be done; the depots and workshops should be asked for accountability.
If the state-run bus breaks down for no diesel, the result would be the same if it is a new or old bus. Hence there has to be accountability, and the maintenance department of the KTC has to be strengthened.
Now with the electric buses, the KTC would save a lot of money on diesel as so also the buses as the buses are new. Hence, it can use the same funds for employing expert technicians.