RoRo ferries on Chorao-Ribandar route reduce travel time from 15min to 5 mins
Two RoRo (roll on/roll off) ferries, Gangotri and Dwarka, were launched on the Chorao–Ribandar route on Monday. The ferries will operate on a PPP basis, said chief minister Pramod Sawant during the launch.
'These vessels will cut travel time from 15 minutes to just five minutes,' he said.
'With air-conditioned facilities for pedestrians, zero-emission features, and their capacity to carry an additional 15-16 vehicles compared to regular ferries, most of the commuters waiting to travel will be accommodated aboard the vessel. Ambulances that used to have additional waiting time due to the limitations of the regular ferries will no longer have to suffer,' he said.
Sawant added that more RoRo services will be introduced on other river routes to strengthen waterway transport and promote tourism. 'This RoRo is an epitome of
Make in India
and Made in Goa. We plan to replicate this successful project across the state,' Sawant added.
Sharing his thoughts on the decision to no
tify fares for commuters travelling on this route, Sawant said, 'The ferry services operate on a 100% basis because the rides are free for pedestrians.
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When we give the public an upgrade in its facilities, they must contribute by paying the fare. We also have a concessional pass system for those who find the daily fares exorbitant,' Sawant said.
The launch was also attended by MP Shripad Naik and the minister for river navigation, Subhash Phal Dessai.
Naik said that Gangotri and Dwarka are not 'outsider' names. 'Both names are inspired by Indian culture, there is no insider and outsider about this.
Someone who makes an issue about it cannot be considered Indian,' he said.
He was reacting to GPCC president Amit Patkar's claim that these names are non-Indian. Phal Desai said that it was his decision to name them and also said that these are two pure names that are associated with water bodies, which is why they have been named so. 'One need not politicise something like this,' he said.
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