# Crew shortage strands KTC passengers at Margao during Ganesh Chaturthi 2026-09-19T22:46:26+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) Margao depot abruptly cancelled interstate bus services to Miraj and Kolhapur during the Ganesh Chaturthi peak, leaving passengers stranded for hours with no official communication or alternative arrangements. The cancellations were attributed to acute crew absenteeism and staff shortages, which depot authorities failed to anticipate despite having advance data. Passengers said they were not informed of the shortage and had to forgo tickets to take private buses. While KTC has recruited new drivers, none have been deployed on active routes because their medical examinations and onboarding procedures remain incomplete. A KTC official said the problem occurred only over two days due to crew shortage, and conditions are expected to normalise next week. Sources said depot managers are routinely briefed on crew availability before 10 am, and that the Margao depot overlooked a basic contingency measure of assigning non-celebrating crew members during the festival. ## Indian Opinion Analysis KTC has faced chronic driver shortages for years, with recruitment often delayed by bureaucratic steps such as medical checks and police verification. The Margao depot's failure to use standby drivers or reassign staff from other routes suggests a deeper breakdown in operational planning at the corporation. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of Goa's busiest travel periods, and the interstate routes to Kolhapur and Miraj carry thousands of passengers. The next test will be whether KTC's management acts on the lessons from this disruption before the Diwali season, which typically sees even higher demand. A formal review by the Goa transport department could follow if passenger complaints escalate. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Ganesh Chaturthi, Goa, Kadamba Transport Corporation, Margao Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/crew-shortage-strands-ktc-passengers-at-margao-during-ganesh-chaturthi/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/crew-shortage-strands-ktc-passengers-at-margao-during-ganesh-chaturthi/#story-in-brief