Ferry breakdown leaves 50 Calvim commuters stranded

Ferry breakdown leaves 50 Calvim commuters stranded
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, SEPT 1
Barely days after a ferry along the Calvim-Carona route broke down, another ferry ‘Shiroda’ met with a similar fate on Wednesday evening, leaving about 50 commuters stranded in the middle of the river.
The Ferry ‘Shiroda’, carrying about 50 commuters, 10 motorcycles and two cars, left Calvim ferry point at about 6.25 pm and after traveling barely 150 mtrs, suffered a breakdown and was grounded due to low tide.
Calvim Panch Freddy Pontes rushed to the River Navigation Department office at Britona and explained the situation to the officer on duty. On getting the assurance from RND staff that new ferry will be dispatched, Pontes returned to Calvim.
Speaking to Herald, Pontes said the officer-in-charge of RND, Britona, had assured him that they would dispatch Ferry ‘Penha-de-Franca’ immediately.
“However the ferry reached Calvim at about 10.30 pm, but the commuters were ferried using a canoe before the ferry could reach the site,” informed Pontes.
“The commuters were left stranded on board Ferry ‘Shiroda’ in utter darkness,” added Pontes.
“The ferry boats plying along the Calvim-Carona route are suffering breakdowns time and again. Ferry boat is the only quickest and convenient means of transport for the villagers to travel out of village and if ferry service is disrupted, office goers suffer the most,” said Pontes.
“Realizing the difficulties of the villagers, the government should provide good ferry boats at Calvim and simultaneously construct bridge at Calvim as early as possible,” added Pontes.
It may be recalled that on August 29, the Ferry ‘Vagator’ plying along the Calvim-Aldona route suffered a breakdown, when water began to seep into the ferry due to a hole.