RND proposes ferry service at Galgibaga
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, MAY 4
While the much-needed bridge could well remain a distant dream, residents could soon be traveling across the Galgibaga River in ferries, with the River Navigation Department (RND) examining a proposal to operate ferry services in Canacona.
A team of officials comprising traffic inspectors and a supervisor, reportedly deputed by RND superintendent, visited Galgibaga River on Tuesday morning to make a site inspection of the river during low tide and accordingly recommend measures for operating ferry boat service.
Given the minimal depth of river Galgibaga at the transshipping point, only a small ferry could be a possibility in the event government pending the twin bridges (over rivers Galgibaga and Talpona) finally decides to introduce ferry service to minimise residents’ hardships.
Interestingly, the inspecting team is likely to recommend dredging of Galgibaga River between Maxem and Galgibaga, as minimum of 5 mtrs depth has to be maintained for plying ferry boat service.
The team which had Khushali Vagonkar and Domingos Telles as traffic inspectors and supervisor Amar Gawde also opined that construction of a ferry wharf on either sides at Maxem and Galgibaga should not be any major issue and both river banks are suitable enough for handling these berths.
Sources informed that pending the long-awaited demand for twin bridges, which can shorten distance by over 12 kms, any vehicle taking up the benefit of ferry boat service at Galgibaga alone can shorten the distance by over 8 kms to Chaudi-Canacona.
The narrow bailey bridge situated at one eastern end of river Talpona can handle only light motor four-wheeler.
Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Pranali Prabhugoankar, Deputy Sarpanch Elvis Fernandes and Panch Jerome Fernandes, while from Poinguinim Panch Satish Painguinkar, Damodar Shenvi and social worker Budhu Mahale among others were present.
It is learnt that even though Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem panchayats share the expenses for operating tar service (in local canoe), sources informed that at no time since Goa’s liberation, any of these local bodies have ever demanded/resolved for government ferry boat service, but were happy to continue with the age-old practice of tar service.
