Upgrade of 4 bus stands to include EV charging points

Panaji: The four main bus stands in Goa — in Panaji and at Margao, Vasco, and Mapusa — will be equipped with EV charging points and digital payment systems. Besides, they will have parking facilities and upgraded washrooms, among other facilities in an upcoming project to modernise the state’s bus stands.
“The number of road accident fatalities is the lowest when it comes to buses compared to the other modes of transport,” said transport director Rajan Satardekar. “We will, therefore, enhance bus transport facilities in Goa so that people are encouraged to use this mode.”
The state government is looking at the PPP model to modernise these bus stands.
“All the four major bus stands are prime properties and linked with the capital city and major towns of Goa. There is a great commercial potential for these bus stands and the buildings inside them,” Satardekar said. “The investor can develop the place for the government to provide good systems for public transportation.”
Satardekar added, “We have had two meetings with the government to consider this potential.”
The proposals include converting the existing buildings into green buildings with the use of solar energy, and creating waiting rooms, sleeping rooms, and parking amenities based on the footfall.
Being an interstate bus terminus, the Panaji bus stand currently draws between 80,000 and 1,00,000 people a day. The Mapusa and Margao bus stands see between 40,000 and 50,000 commuters a day while the Vasco bus stand has 30,000 commuters transiting daily.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant while flagging off 20 disabled-friendly EVs on Thursday at Bambolim had said that the major bus stands of Goa will be modernised.