A full week after partially sinking at the Chorao Island ferry ramp, the Betim ferry remains submerged, severely disrupting the daily travel routine of islanders and commuters. The continued delay in recovery has sparked public frustration and political backlash, with questions mounting over the vessel's salvageability and the timeline for restoring normal operations.
Authorities have assured that ferry services will resume once the sunken vessel is removed and the route is deemed safe for navigation. However, multiple recovery attempts have failed so far.
River Navigation Department (RND) Minister Subhash Phal Dessai acknowledged on Saturday that an earlier operation to retrieve the ferry was unsuccessful. “We tried once, but couldn’t bring it up. More efforts are underway, and we’re committed to recovering the ferry intact—it will not be wasted,” he said.
RND Director Vikramsinh N Raje Bhosale confirmed that another lift attempt was made on Saturday, but the vessel could not be raised. “We’ve now attached a pontoon to the ferry and hope to lift it by tomorrow,” he added.
The Betim began to sink early on Monday, June 23, following a reported tank flooding incident. Three motorcycles parked on the ferry also sank but were recovered the same day.
The episode has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party, which labeled it an act of “criminal negligence.” A party spokesperson demanded the dismissal of the Captain of Ports and called for an independent judicial inquiry into what they described as a serious failure in ferry safety and maintenance.
As recovery efforts continue, the community waits anxiously for a resolution to restore vital transportation services between Chorao and the mainland.