SURAJ NANDREKAR
With the rising number of traffic and the constant traffic jams on both sides of Mandovi Bridge, the State authorities could well encourage the water transport between the two sides.
Ever since the work on third Mandovi bridge has begun in 2014, the traffic situation, mostly at Porvorim and KTC junction, has become chaotic at the peak hours.
Experts reveal that the government could actively consider increasing the ferries on Panjim-Betim route while also restarting the Panjim-Malim ferry services.
Every day over a lakh vehicles cross through the Mandovi bridges.
People from Pernem, Mapusa, Porvorim, Saligao, Calangute, Verem, Aldona and Pomburpa use the same route.
“The increase in frequency of ferry would encourage the commuters to take ferry instead of the road,” said a commuter Ritesh Naik, who comes from Pilerne.
Like Ritesh there are many who want to take the ferry to avoid traffic but the ferries at peak hours are overloaded. “Besides, the last week’s incident of ferry the hitting sandbar has given a scare to all as the ferries are almost three-decade old,” said another commuter Anita Shirodkar.
Another commuter said the rush for ferries in the morning and evening is more than that on the bridge and hence we take the road route.
When contacted a senior River Navigation officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the department will increase the ferries by January.
“We have ordered for three new ferries and one of them could be used for the Panjim-Betim route,” said the officer.
He agreed the situation in the morning and evening is bad.
“Right now we do not have enough ferries to add to Panjim route. Three ferries have been condemned and we have asked for replacement which we will get in January,” he said.
Asked whether the department is considering another route like the old Malim-St Monica jetty route, he replied in the negative.
“Those jetties do not belong to us so we can’t speak much,” he said.
Traffic police inspector Brendon D’Souza (Traffic) says the department has requisitioned an additional ferry due to the traffic issues.
“We have requested RND to include an additional ferry boat in case of any emergency during the tourist season as the total number of vehicles increases on the roads,” he told Herald
He added, “This is a request to the department every tourist season.”
