Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Blaming KTC for abruptly stopping services of Mhaji Bus services to the Mudkud, the hinterland of Agonda villages since last 8 days, residents have come out strongly to demand resumption of after-noon Bus Service, immediately.
According to residents of Mudkud (Ward no.1) of Agonda village, the Mhaji Bus-Service begins its trip during morning time, afternoon time and evening time and this service used to help the residents for a number of years now.’ But, for 8 days now, the bus has suddenly stopped its afternoon trip to their area, inconveniencing students and the public at large.
Students and other residents using this bus-service have expressed their displeasure over the sudden suspension of the Mudkud-Agond passenger bus service, which has been running for many years’, informed Agonda Ex-Sarpanch Pramod Phaldessai. ‘Now locals have become helpless and get agitated for the sudden discontinuation of an afternoon trip which used to help students and other locals. Incidentally, Agonda VP ward no.1 Mudkud is situated on the North-East end on one end of the village, cut by river saleri between the neighboring village of Khola.
Locals have now demanded that the suspended bus service be resumed without delay.
‘Our people used to avail this bus service, particularly the afternoon trip, and people were happy for providing good service at this place. Now people , particularly the student community, wonder why it is closed. If the government doesn’t provide bus facilities for students, then who will? However, they(students) ask why is there such discrimination against them in their area?
Due to unavailability of bus, students currently have to walk long distances from bus-stop on MDR-49 road in the village and reach late at their homes, besides it is not possible to reach in time for any additional classes, or practices or to attend schooling sessions in other schools on time.
Pramod Phaldesai, who is also the recently elected president of the local temple committee, has demanded that buses be started as soon as possible. When I sought to know the reasons for sudden discontinuation, the Bus driver informed me that they had been asked by KTC to stop the afternoon services as uneconomical. “We don’t understand why KTC interferes in routes as the routes are allotted by RTO and not by KTCL which also operates private buses as Mhaji Bus Service.
