MARGAO
Come Wednesday, as people of Goa join the rest of the nation to usher in Dussehra festivities, Madgavakars in particular and Saxttikars and South Goans, in general, may ask a simple question to the powers that be – explain the status of the ambitious Margao bus stand, foundation stone for the project was laid on Dussehra in 2011.
It was 11 years ago on Dussehra day that the Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) had laid the foundation stone for the construction of an ultra-modern bus terminus at Margao at the hands of former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane when Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was the State’s chief minister in 2011.
Sadly, the Margao bus stand project, which was initially christened as an ultra-modern bus terminus when the foundation stone was laid in 2011 and later re-christened as Fatorda Margao Bus Terminus (FMBT) in 2017 following a change in political guard, is yet to see the light of the day.
Even smaller towns across the State may play host to bus stands catering to the commuters, but the long-delayed Margao bus stand has only raised questions about whether real estate interests have derailed the project or it simply could not take off for want of funds.
Consider this. When the foundation stone was laid for the bus stand christened as ultra modern bus stand in 2011 at the initiative of then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, hopes were raised that the project estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, will see the light of the day in two years. The bus stand project designed by a Delhi-based consultant had mooted shopping malls and commercial activities in multi-storied buildings.
A change in political guard in 2012, which saw the return of the late Manohar Parrikar to power as chief minister, saw the ultra modern bus terminus landing in cold storage.
For the whole five years, between 2012 and 2017, the project was relegated to the background, only to be revived when the Goa Forward Party propped up the late Manohar Parrikar-led regime in 2017.
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai not only convinced late Parrikar to engage the same Delhi-based consultant to partially modify the plan and design of the original project but re-christened the same as the Fatorda Margao Bus Terminus (FMBT).
Sources in the know said the project did make some progress, but the original concept of exploiting the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) by having commercial activities at the bus stand more or less remained the same. The only addition made in the 2011 plan was to have a multi-level parking lot inside the bus stand complex.
The project, however, could not become a reality due to the demise of Manohar Parrikar and the unceremonious exit of Vijai Sardesai and party ministers from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led cabinet in 2019.
Since then to date, one has only occasionally heard the government promising to build the Margao bus stand. The long-delayed Margao bus stand or bus terminus, however, found a big mention in the 2022 election manifesto of almost all the politicos in the fray.
Bus stand will be pursued on top most priority: Digambar
MARGAO
Will the return of seven-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to the ruling BJP dispensation help make the long-delayed ultra modern bus terminus for Margao a reality?
When this question was posed to Kamat on the eve of Dussehra, whether there’s any hope of the Margao bus stand becoming a reality now with his homecoming in the BJP, the Margao MLA only said: “The bus stand will be pursued on top most priority so that the project becomes a reality in the next four years.”
Conceding that the project was relegated to the backburner after a change in political guard in 2012, Kamat said “Since I am part of the government now, the bus stand project will be pursued on priority and taken to the logical conclusion.”
He added: “During my stint as chief minister, my government had roped in a Delhi-based consultant to prepare the plan and design of the bus stand. After my exit from the office, the project could not take off for a host of reasons. I will now ensure that the bus stand project is taken to the logical conclusion.”
Bus stand at Margao a dire necessity: KTC chairman
MARGAO
Ask Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) Chairman, MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, whether the KTC has any plans up its sleeves to make the Margao bus stand a reality and apt comes a reply that the bus stand at Margao is a dire necessity.
In fact, Ulhas pointed out that he has already discussed the Margao bus stand issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant after he assumed office as Chairman of the Kadamba Transport Corporation.
“During our meeting with the Chief Minister, we had discussed the bus stand in detail. One thing is clear, I will push the Margao bus stand project with the Chief Minister so that it becomes a reality during my tenure,” he said.
Saying that the project is estimated to cost over Rs 200 crore, the KTC Chairman said the government will take a call on how to go about its execution.
“Given the project will cost over Rs 200 crore, the government will take a call on the funding aspect. I will do the follow-up with the government,” he said.
