A second pontoon, equipped with an additional crane, has arrived at Chorao to aid the ongoing effort to recover the stranded ferry Betim, fuelling hopes that a full-scale salvage operation is finally set to begin.
The ferry has remained partially submerged at the Chorao Island ramp since July 23, when one of its tanks became flooded. While three parked bikes that sank along with the vessel were recovered the same evening, the ferry itself has posed a far greater challenge for the River Navigation Department (RND), which has now been battling the situation for over 10 days.
According to RND sources, the operation to secure the ferry to the pontoon has been repeatedly hampered by poor underwater visibility. Divers tasked with fastening chains to the submerged vessel struggled, as the chains kept slipping off during multiple attempts.
RND Director Vikram Raje Bhosale explained that the vessel could only be secured from beneath the surface — something that only divers can do — but murky waters rendered it impossible to complete the task.
The arrival of the second pontoon is being seen as a major step forward. Local resident Eusebio D’Silva voiced cautious optimism: “Finally, a second pontoon has arrived, increasing the possibility of lifting the ferryboat soon. What I’ve learnt is that once it’s secured, pumps will be deployed to drain water from the engine room. That should allow the ferry to float again. Probably this will happen tomorrow,” he said.
Earlier attempts to salvage the ferry using hired pontoons were unsuccessful due to the shallow depth of the riverbank, which made it difficult to position the equipment. Additional efforts by RND staff, divers, and a crane salvager were also thwarted by high tide and technical issues.
Now, with improved infrastructure in place, there is renewed hope that the Betim ferry can finally be lifted and transported to the RND workshop for necessary repairs.