PANAJI: A notification issued by the North and South Goa Collectors banning the Kadamba Transport Corporation buses from entering the cities of Panaji and Margao has irked the commuters.

The KTC has taken up the matter with the North Goa Collector, Mr Mihir Vardhan asking for relaxation of the order as the buses mostly carry passengers from rural areas working in government offices.

It is learnt that Mr Vardhan has issued a notification to KTC banning the big buses from entering the capital city so as to ease the traffic congestion during the mornings.

Similarly, the South Goa Collector, Mr G P Naik too has banned the shuttle buses from entering Margao following opposition from the Margao municipal council.

Sources in the KTC informed that its buses used to enter Panaji in the mornings for the convenience of government employees, as the city buses are always overcrowded and not in a position to handle the passengers coming from villages.

In Margao, passengers travelling by the KTC’s shuttle service are made to alight near Ana Fonte, about a kilometre away from the old bus stand in the city, and from there they need to either walk or take another bus to the city. This is causing inconvenience to the commuters, who after paying a premium ticket of Rs 26 need to take another bus to reach the city.

The KTC source informed that they are forced to alight the passengers near Ana Fonte because of the notification. "We have no problem dropping the passengers near the old bus stand as we have been doing all these years. For us it’s just a matter of one kilometre."

The source said that Mr Naik issued the notification following opposition from the Margao municipal council according to which the KTC buses entering Margao cause traffic congestion. The official informed that the KTC will be writing to the South Goa Collector to relax the orders in the best interest of the passengers.

Meanwhile, a commuter Ms A Dias said, "I cannot understand the logic of leaving the passengers stranded like this. I have to either walk or take another bus even after already paying a premium for the ticket. I have to pay another Rs 5 to take the city bus. Stopping the shuttle service mid-way is not the solution to the traffic problem. It is the mismanagement of the government departments that is leading to the congestion. The authorities need to find a proper solution to solve the traffic woes and should not put public to inconvenience. The KTC has to take up the matter with the concerned authorities or else reduce the ticket fare," she said. A government employee said the Panaji city buses are too congested in the mornings and "we cannot reach work in time. KTC was doing a good job by dropping us near the market from where we could go to our respective offices."