New Delhi, June 25 -- In 2014, Newton Sequeira wrapped up his late-night shift on his first day at a new job in Panaji, only to discover he had no way of returning home to Margao, located around 40 kilometres away. Stranded on Panaji's Miramar Road around 9 pm, Sequeira waited at least 15 minutes before an autorickshaw agreed to take him, charging a steep fare for the late-night journey.

The next day, he learned from colleagues that no buses operate after 7 pm. "I didn't have the money to buy a vehicle, but I needed one to commute. Within a couple of months, I took out a loan and bought a two-wheeler to make travel to work easier," he recalled.

More than a decade later, not much has changed for Goa's residents, or the tourists who visit...