Panaji (Goa): Two days after a passenger boat hit the sand bar and the second ferry boat ~ that was immediately dispatched for the rescue operation ~ broke down as it’s underneath machine got entangled to a rope of an anchored off shore casino vessel; questions are being raised about the congested River Mandovi. 

 

Six off shore casino vessels, one of which is in operational; over half a dozen passenger cruise boats while nearly 400 fishing trawlers parked on the other side of the river bank has unarguably prevented free movement of ferry boats among other public utility services in inland water. The long stretch of Mandovi River having big and small jetties also has government boats like that of marine police, Captain of Ports department, etc parked all along. 

 

The second ferry boat named ‘Bandora’ was definitely a victim of the river channel’s congestion, which if otherwise, the boat would have reacued stranded passengers on board ‘Mandovi’ ferry boat without much chaos. 

 

“Bandora’ was sent to rescue the people stranded on ‘Mandovi’ boat but it’s engine was entangled to a rope of a casino. As such it’s propeller stopped working. We had to then call the Marine police and the fire safety team to rescue the commuters on board,” said a fire fighting team member. 

 

While some passengers were rescued some other had refused without their bikes. Thereafter the additional collector, mamlatdar and deputy captain of ports had boarded the ferry boat to convince the people to cooperate with the rescue operation. “They heeded to our request and we’re reacued in the late hours of Thursday. Their bikes were returned the very next morning,” said an official from the district administration.

 

Had the second ferry boat not suffered technical problem, a lengthy rescue exercise wouldn’t follow. It was the congestion of the river channel that led to technical fault of the boat, the river & navigation department official said. 

 

With the Panaji to Betim and back ferry route being used by thousands of commuters daily, the government is contemplating some relief in terms of clearing the channel. “However the idea has not been detailed as of now. We will give a thought over it,” he said. 

 

The RND is also planning to include an additional ferry boat to the existing two on this route next year.  For now Bandora is undergoing repairs at RND workshop while Mandovi is ferrying passengers like before.