14 Oct 2022  |   06:15am IST

State’s first solar electric hybrid ferry boat thrown open to public

Will be operational along Chorao-Panjim route

Team Herald

PANJIM: Goa’s first solar electric hybrid ferry boat, to be operational along Chorao-Panjim route was thrown open for public on Thursday along with floating concrete jetty of the Captain of Ports (CoP). 

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched the ferry service and floating jetty in presence of Union Minister for State for Tourism Shripad Naik and the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. 

While the solar ferry boat is built at an estimated cost of Rs 3.97 crore, the floating jetty project is around Rs 9.6 crore. Both the projects are funded by Inland Waterways Authority of India. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sawant said that State will soon introduce more solar electric hybrid ferry boats on additional routes to reduce dependency on fossil fuel. He also said that plans are also to construct more floating jetties across State as and where required, to boost the inland infrastructure. 

Sawant said that the 60-passenger capacity ferry boat can run on electricity, solar power or diesel and will be used for ferrying only passengers and not vehicles. He said that the ferry service will be free of cost for the first 15 days, after which the River Navigation Department will work out the ticket rates.