Calvim locals thwart ferry diversion
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, AUG 28
Residents of Calvim on Friday thwarted attempts by the staff of the River Navigation Department (RND) to tow away a ferry to the workshop for repairs by using a ferry plying along the Calvim-Aldona route.
According to reports, the Ferry ‘Vagaor’ plying along the Calvim-Aldona route suffered a breakdown on Friday at about 4.30 pm, when water began to seep into the ferry due to a hole.
The RND later dispatched another ferry ‘Bandora’ in replacement of the ‘Vagator’ ferry that evening. However, the staff on ‘Bandora’ was directed by some RND officials to tow away the ferry ‘Vagator’ on Saturday morning to the workshop at Brittona to carry out repairs.
When commuters learnt on Saturday morning that the staff was planning to use the ferry ‘Bandora’ to tow away the stranded ferry ‘Vagator’, they refused to alight from the ‘Bandora’ ferry in protest.
RND staff informed the agitated commuters that they had been instructed by their superiors to tow away the ‘Vagator’ ferry but the commuters did not budge.
The news spread like wildfire as other residents also gathered at the site.
Some locals then contacted Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar and narrated the events to him, stating that ferry services along the route would be paralysed if the lone ferry ‘Bandora’ was temporarily withdrawn from the route.
Narvekar then spoke to Minister for River Navigation Sudin Dhavliker and requested him not to take away the ‘Bandora’ ferry.
Accordingly, Dhavaliker directed the RND not to disrupt the ferry service at Calvim.
“This is the second time that such incident has taken place at Calvim. The Ferry is the only quickest and convenient means of transport for villagers to travel out of village. If the ferry service is disrupted, the office goers suffer the most,” said Calvim Panch Freddy Pontes.
“Realizing the difficulties of the villagers, the government should provide good ferries at Calvim and should also construct the bridge at Calvim as early as possible,” he added.
