Un-‘Smart’ move: ‘Smart City’ bus shelters removed during G-20 meetings still not restored

The summer in Goa is at its peak, providing no respite to commuters from the sweltering heat. However, the lack of bus shelters along Dayanand Bandodkar Road in Panjim has increased travellers’ misery.

According to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Naik, the Corporation removed bus shelters along the Dayanand Bandodkar Road in view of the G20 Summit, following the directions from the State government.

“In view of the G20 Summit, we were asked to remove bus shelters, since they were old and rusted. The shelters were removed when the reconstruction work of pavements was undertaken by the government. We have been informed that the new bus shelters are being procured through the Smart City Mission funds and the same will be installed soon across the city, which also covers the Dayanand Bandodkar Road,” Naik said.

The absence of bus shelters along the route is causing great inconvenience to commuters, especially senior citizens, who are compelled to stand in the sweltering heat to wait for the bus to reach their respective destinations.

In an unplanned move, the authorities concerned removed bus shelters from prime locations such as Miramar Circle, Panjim ferry wharf, Bal Bhavan, Kala Academy, etc. The bus shelter located near the ESG Complex, near the Panjim municipal market is not senior citizen-friendly as an improper seating space has been provided in the form of moulded stainless steel pipes and on the opposite side of the road there is no bus shelter.

“Bus stops in the city don’t have a shade and hence it is very inconvenient for commuters like me as we have to stand for long in the open in this scorching heat,” a senior citizen Ramakant Uskaikar said.

Rajesh Parab, a resident of Dona Paula said, “To stand in the sweltering heat waiting for a bus is unbearable. If they had a plan in place, they should have installed new ones the same day. Why cause inconvenience to the public?”

A bus conductor speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “Forget the bus shelters there are no signages indicating bus stops. Locals are at least aware of where the bus will stop, but tourists get confused and move in distress. We are losing passengers during this peak tourism season.”

A senior official of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) informed that the Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) through the Smart City Mission is procuring 22 electric buses in the first batch and the upgradation of bus shelters is also one of the components of the project.

“The new bus shelters will give real-time information about buses to commuters. It will take at least over a month for this project to be commissioned,” the official added.

So what happens to commuters in the sweltering May heat? Take a ‘Smart’ guess