Vendors at Canacona bus stand slam restroom fees

Shopkeepers complain about poor maintenance at the terminus

Canacona: Shopkeepers at Canacona’s Kadamba bus stand have expressed anger regarding charges being levied for the usage of toilets at the terminus.

They complain that they are being charged despite paying rental fees to the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) for running their business.

The shopkeepers allege that the present contractor in charge of maintaining the washrooms and toilets collects extra fees, which is more than the approved amount. They added that the rate for using the toilet is simply typed and pasted without any approval stamp from a relevant authority, adding that this is the first time that shopkeepers are being charged a toilet usage fee.

“A person stationed at the bus stand for more than 10 hours to run business will need to use the washrooms at least 5 times, how can the contractor charge us?” the shopkeepers questioned.

Despite the fact that the KTC is collecting revenue, the Canacona bus stand is not properly maintained and no proper facilities are made available to the public, alleged the locals and commuters.  

Shopkeepers and commuters were also found complaining about poor management at the bus stand, particularly the dismal maintenance of toilets and lack of cleanliness with garbage strewn around and even being burnt openly on the premises.

They also raised the issue of a non-functioning canteen and lack of drinking water facility at the terminus despite the availability of plumbing provisions to fix a water filter. Locals have also expressed anger regarding the exposed underground electric cables on the premises and the issue of parking fees being charged from customers who visit the terminus regularly for work.

Diogo D’Silva, a businessman and a social activist, opined that as a Regional Transport Office (RTO) office and an e-service office is located at the bus stand, besides other shops, only public parking for long duration should be charged.

A shopkeeper running a cell phone repair shop complained that the fee for parking is affecting his business, and added that customers complain about the same. He said, “Why would customers visit my shop, if they have to pay a parking fee to visit my shop at the KTC bus stand?”