OLD GOA, OCT 8
Residents of Vanxim Island were once again left stranded on Thursday afternoon, after two ferry boats broke down one between the Amboi-Diwar Island and Vanxim Island ferry route.
Residents were shocked to learn that the ferry boat ‘Pednem’ and another ferry boat ‘Curchorem’ broke down within a span of few hours. A third ferry boat was put into service only at 7 pm.
According to sources, the lone ferry ‘Pednem’ plying along the Diwar and Vanxim Island route broke down at about 2 pm due to a problem in the clutch plate.
School children from Vanxim island had to wait for hours to reach their homes on Vanxim island. Locals from Vanxim later utilised canoes to ferry the stranded students.
At about 3 pm, another ferry ‘Curchorem’ was pressed into service along the same route. However, the second ferry developed a problem in the propeller within a few hours and could not ferry passengers along the route.
A third ferry `Curtorim’ was later pressed into service along the route.
“Our ferry was summoned at the site at about 7 pm on Thursday due to the breakdown of the `Curchorem’ ferry, which was put into service after the breakdown of the first ferry,” said Anthony Ricardo, coxswain of the ferry `Curtorim’.
Commenting on the incident, local Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said: “In the last two months, ferry services in my constituency have improved a lot. But this problem which took place on Thursday along the Vanxim-Diwar ferry route was due to the fact that the ferries are old.”
“I will try and meet River Navigation Minister Sudhin Dhavlikar and request him to put a new ferry along the Vanxim-Diwar ferry route,” he added.
Added Malar Sarpanch Tulshidas Kundaikar: “I have also spoken to river navigation officials, who have assured to send a new ferry as soon as possible.”
