Goa transportation

The Kadamba Transport Corporation or the K. T. C of the Government of Goa runs a large number of Interstate and Intercity bus services. Travel to Goa is also provided by Maharashtra state road transport corporation of Maharashtra and Karnataka state road transport corporation of Karnataka. Private companies provide bus services to Goa from almost all of the states in India. Intercity bus services covers almost all of Goa and is very popular amongst the transit passengers and is used by so many people everyday. KTC is a Government of Goa road transport undertaking and it is heavily subsidized by the government.

It is advisable to buy tickets beforehand especially during the peak tourist season from October to December and from May to June. Please make sure when you book the ticket that you have an assigned seat number, and that you have a receipt for it. Make sure to obtain the name of the bus / number in writing and also the exact site and time of departure as it varies depending on where you board the bus.

Introduction

Road travel to Goa generally entails either taking a bus to Goa or arranging private transportation in the form of a Car or Van. The two major highways that connect Goa to the rest of India are the NH-17 and NH-4. Besides this there are a number of state and village roads that are in a better condition than most in India. The roads however take a beating with the monsoon and are at their worst usually a few months after that until they are repaired and then its time for the next monsoon and so on....

The traffic on the road is variable with scooters, motorcycles, cars, Bicycles, pedestrians, cows, buffalos, dogs etc. Unlike the west, the National Highways are not free from pedestrians and animals and the lanes of traffic are not separated and mostly unprotected on the sides. Traffic moves to the left as in the UK and opposite to that in the USA and Germany. The maximum speed limit is 60Kms/hr on selected sections. The National Highways are funded and maintained by the Govt. of India and there is a major initiative to convert them to western style highways.

The interior of Goa is well connected with buses both private and the government owned bus services connecting almost every inhabited village. Needless to say, bus travel is very popular in Goa. For those single and in a hurry, there is a unique form of transport-the Motorcycle Taxi, driven by motorcycle "Pilots". They are very reliable but expensive. There are also private "Yellow top Cabs" and vans and Limousines available for hire.

Tips for Interstate Bus Travel to and from Goa

In general It is advisable to buy tickets beforehand especially during the peak tourist season from October to December and from May to June. Please make sure when you book the ticket that you have an assigned seat number, and that you have a receipt for it. Make sure to obtain the name of the bus / number in writing and also the exact site and time of departure as it varies depending on where you board the bus.

The bus journey from Bombay for example takes about 18hrs. There are stops usually for dinner and snacks. The individual bus companies arrange these stops and many a time they may not be at the best of places and the food served in the restaurants are not optimal. It is a good idea to take adequate food and drinks to cover the travel. There are rest rooms but standards vary.

The buses run on National Highways which are typical Indian single lane roads and the ride at most is bumpy, especially if you sit in the rear seats. Avoid booking the rear seats and seats over the rear wheel area unless you are desperate. The seats in the front reflect light coming directly from headlights of incoming vehicles and may hamper even light sleep. The best seats are in the mid carriage section. The luggage is usually locked in the luggage boxes at the time of boarding and is usually safe. One has to however be careful about personal items carried on person or inside the bus and keep an eye on it at all times, especially at stops when passengers alight.

The Kadamba Transport Corporation or the K. T. C of the Government of Goa runs a large number of these services and so do the government bus services M. S. R. T. C and K. S .R .T. C of the neighboring states of Maharastra and Karnataka. The Bombay Goa route also has bus services run by private sector companies.
KTC or the Kadamba Transport Corporation

KTC is a Govt. of Goa road transport undertaking. It was created to provide cheap, cost-effective, safe, timely and comprehensive transportation services for Goa's multitude. To a large extent , it has accomplished this objective, the cost for providing this service however has been substantial. It is heavily subsidized by the government and is reportedly in the red like most of India's state run road transport undertakings.

The KTC operates the Bus Stand's (main bus stops or station) in almost all of Goa's cities and towns. Their services cover the length and breadth of Goa today. The ticket prices are very reasonable and for intra Goa travel are purchased on the bus itself from the on board "Bus conductor". They are packed with passengers during peak hours and there are some non-stop services as well. They have special rates for children, students and senior citizens. It functions as the school bus during school hours .
For Inter-state travel however, it is highly recommended that tickets be purchased reasonably well in advance especially during the summer and winter rush / tourist seasons. This is in spite of special services run during that time.

KTC Contact information

Kadamba Transport Corporation
Traffic Controller
Kadamba Bus Stand
Panaji
0832 222 637
Website: http://www.goatourism.org/Transportation/air.htm

Mr. Digambar Phadte, Traffic Controller (T.C), KTC
Kadamba Bus Stand, Panaji, Goa.
Tel: 0832 222 637