Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar on Saturday launched four electric buses (EV) at the Vasco Kadamba bus stand in the presence of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Girish Borker, City ward councillor Shami Salkar, officials of the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) and local residents.
Speaking at the launch, Salkar said the buses would operate on the Vasco–Margao route. “This is a long-pending demand of the people, which I had raised in the assembly. We had received assurance from the Transport Minister that EV buses would be provided soon. Today, Goa has received a total of 14 EV buses, of which four have been allocated to Vasco in Mormugao taluka. On behalf of Vascokars, I want to thank the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and members of KTCL for this gift,” he said.
Recalling the poor state of the earlier fleet, Salkar added, “We used to have diesel-fuelled buses in very bad condition. People often complained of noise, rattling windows and pollution from the old vehicles. These new EV buses will cater to the needs of the entire Mormugao taluka, operating from the Vasco bus stand.”
He also raised concerns about the shuttle bus service. “Many times, office-goers, teachers and students face difficulties because trains arrive at the same time, and tourists occupy the buses, leaving locals stranded. As a result, teachers and students reach school late. We have urged the Transport Minister to introduce separate additional buses for tourists so that Goans don’t have to struggle with the shuttle service and can reach their destinations on time,” he said.
Turning to infrastructure, Salkar announced that work on shifting the existing Vasco bus stand would begin shortly. “The MMC has already allotted us land, which will be used to temporarily shift the bus stand. Once this is done, work on the new Kadamba bus stand project will be launched. Vascokars will get a state-of-the-art bus stand with modern facilities and amenities. I have discussed the plans with the Chief Minister, and we expect to launch the works before Diwali. The new Vasco bus stand will be like a bus port — a model facility for the state,” Salkar added.
