Wednesday 19 Feb 2025

QUESTIONS GALORE OVER BUS PORT CONCEPT

Proposed Ultra-Modern Bus Terminus, Fatorda-Margao Bus Terminus resembled commercial hubs; Transport Minister promises bus port at Margao KTC bus stand with Central assistance

THE GOAN NETWORK | AUGUST 14, 2023, 12:40 AM IST
QUESTIONS GALORE OVER BUS PORT CONCEPT

MARGAO
What’s this bus port concept espoused by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho all about? Will the concept help upgrade the standard of the Margao’s bus stand, operating from a makeshift shelter erected in the mid-80’s? How would the State and central governments go about implementing the scheme? How much percentage of the prime bus stand space will be exploited commercially? With the major bus stands, including Margao, located on prime commercial space, how would the State benefit financially in lieu of utilisation of the bus stand area for trade and commerce?

These and other questions have come to the fore after Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho promised a bus port in the commercial capital on the sprawling Margao KTC bus stand with central assistance.

Many a question, however, remains unanswered, including the moot question, how would the bus port look like, more so when the previous two proposals, one, an ultra-modern bus terminus and the Fatorda-Margao Bus Terminus on the sprawling 60,000 square metres looked more like a real estate development than a bus stand in the true sense of them that would cater to the requirements for the next 50-100 years.

The Transport Minister has ruled out roping in a private player to execute the project. At the same time, Mauvin says the State government will enter into an agreement with the Centre to develop the bus port under the PPP model – throwing up a question whether the Centre would rope in private players to develop the bus port in return for a certain percentage of land for commercial exploitation.

Mauvin told The Goan on Sunday that the Goa government will ink an agreement with the Centre to develop the bus stands at Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. “We will enter into a PPP agreement with the Centre. Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari has promised to set up a special purpose vehicle to execute the bus ports in Goa,” he said.

Shedding more light on the concept, the Transport Minister informed that the bus port will be handed over to the Goa government after 30 years. “The State government will not invest in any money in the project. The bus port will be fully funded by the Centre. Initially, the State government will take up the bus stands at Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. We have plans to later take all the 18 bus stands under the scheme,” Mauvin said.

He added: “The proposal has reached the stage of finalisation. Once the special purpose vehicle is ready, the State government would sign the agreement with the Centre on the transfer of the land to develop the same into a bus port.”

Take note, the bus port may come free of cost, if one goes by the Transport Minister, who says the State government will not invest any money in the project. But, what about the prime land in question, admeasuring over 60,000 square metres, which plays host to intra and inter-stage buses? For, the previous two proposals, the Ultra-Modern Bus Terminus and the Fatorda-Margao Bus Terminus had raised many an eyebrow in certain quarters, for the simple reason that the proposed bus terminus resembled a real estate development with shopping malls, restaurants, office space, theatres et al.

“The local representatives as well as the Transport Minister and the government should understand that the existing Margao KTC bus stand is the only space available for development as a modern bus stand. The proposed bus stand should be designed in such a way that it would cater to the next 50-100 years since there won’t be any vacant space left around to develop another bus stand in Margao, Fatorda or in the neighbouring villages. The proposed bus port should be a bus stand and not a commercial hub,” remarked a citizen.

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