PANAJI: The River Navigation Department (RND) is in the process of floating tenders for the construction of four new ferry boats even as the department’s plan to build one ferry boat a year still remains a distant dream with the slipway of the department remaining permanently busy with the repair works of ferry boats.

It may be recalled that the Transport Minister, Mr Ramkrishna Dhavalikar had said that the department would construct ferry boat a year as a part of the plan to revamp the services in the state.

The Captain of Ports James Braganza said that the department is in the process of floating the tenders for construction of four new ferry boats. He further said that the tendering process should get completed by August end and soon the work on the new ferry boats should begin.

When asked about the department’s plan to construct a ferry boat every year, Captain Braganza said construction of a ferry boat takes around six to eight months and in the mean time, the repair works cannot be stalled for such a long period as the ferry boats keep breaking down
very often.

He also said that the department has all the capabilities to construct new ferry boats, however, due to frequent breakdowns the department is not in a position to start constructing ferry boats just yet, hence has to go through the tendering process and invite outside parties for construction of the ferry boats. Captain Braganza said that at the moment there are around six ferry boats kept for repairs and added that the ferry boats are frequently sent for maintenance as it is an ongoing process.

At present, 37 out of the 43 ferry boats are in operation, he informed adding the department has put the new ferry boats on all the major routes. The department has overhauled six old ferry boats during the last eight months. These ferry boats are as good as new as the entire body work has been done except for the engines, which are old, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Captain Braganza informed that the River Navigation Department has withdrawn the direct Panaji-Chorao ferry services due to poor response. He said that the department had started the direct ferry services on a trial basis in March-April, however, the ferry services didn’t get the desired response.

Further he said that the department also proposes to exempt all islanders from the newly proposed tariff system for ferry commuters. He said that ferry services will remain the same as they are prevalent at the moment. Justifying the new tariff system, Captain Braganza said that over the years, the ferry services have been non-revenue generating; after tariffs come into force, the department can use the funds to further improve the services.