Panaji, Mar 23 (KNN) The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its pre-budget recommendations has urged the state government to create a mass transport system (MTS) which connects all the airports, major bus stands and railway stations with the urban centres of the state.

“Though new road infrastructure is being created, we need a mass transport system (MTS) in the state for reliable and easy commuting for passengers. We now have two airports in the state and passengers cannot depend solely on the fragile taxi system,” said GCCI president Ralph de Sousa.

GCCI along with other industry bodies have called for the state government to built an efficient public transportation system that links Goa’s hinterland with the industrial estates.

Warning about the perils of high density of private vehicles on roads, Industry experts pointed out that rather than pumping heavily on wider roads and bigger bridges, which incentivise people to travel in their personal vehicles, Goa needs to think ahead and invest in a Bus Rapid Transit System or even a metro rail system.

Goa tops the country in terms of number of households that own vehicles with over eight in 10 families having a two-wheeler and nearly half the number (50 per cent) possessing a car. 

The high density of vehicles is cramping up road space and is a major contributor to high rate of road mishaps, transport officials have concluded.

Goa Institute of Management professor for strategic management, Rohit Prabhudessai said that a metro system in Goa will help address the state’s transportation requirements in the next 15-20 years.

Local stakeholders remain sceptical about the viability of a metro system in Goa given that the load factor during non peak hours is expected to be minimal, reported TOI.  (KNN Bureau)