It must be said that the ferry services in the state form an important link between the islands and the main land. Several people are dependent on this mode of transport to reach their work-place and back home. For the islanders this is the only mode of transport to “keep in touch” with the main-land, literally speaking. The ferries are seen crowded during the entire day, especially during peak hours in the morning and in the evening.
Before the Zuari bridge came into existence, the ferry was the only mode of transport to travel from Cortalim to Agassaim and back. In the past the ferry used to carry fewer passengers and vehicles. But now times have changed. The population has increased and so has the number of vehicles. But the ferry services remain the same with barely any changes in the system in order to cope up with the increase in the number of people using this mode of transport. Whenever a bus reaches the entry point of the ferry, commuters are seen rushing to the ferry putting their own lives at peril. There is absolute no discipline. The right thing to do would have been for the people in the ferry to alight before others board the ferry. But discipline is lacking as a result of which there is absolute chaos with people almost dashing against one another during rush hour.
Vehicles that move out of the ferry have to climb a slope and hence the driver has to accelerate. The vehicle could hit a commuter trying to board the ferry. It would be in the fitness of things to post a police at the ferry point so that people are allowed to first alight from the ferry before others board it. Alternatively metal barricades should be put up along the sides of the ramp so that people are forced to board the ferry in a queue after other have alighted from it.
The number of vehicles in the state have increased to such an extent that it seems unwise to have vehicles and people vying for space in the ferry-boat. It would be appropriate to have separate ferry-boats carrying only vehicles and separate ones carrying the commuters. It may also be necessary to put more ferries in service during rush hours. There needs to be a limit on the number of people that a ferry-boat can carry. At present there is no such limit and during rush hours commuters could be standing even on the metal ramp of the ferry-boat. Heavy vehicles and those vehicles carrying heavy loads should not be allowed on the ferry-boats during rush hours.
