PANJIM: Almost three months after commissioning Goa’s first solar electric hybrid passenger ferryboat, the State government has failed to make it operational.
The ferry was commissioned on October 13, last year, at the hands of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at Panjim. The ferryboat was supposed to be operated on Chorao-Panjim route on a ‘trial basis’.
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Sawant then had announced that for the first 15 days the services would be free and later passengers will have to pay a nominal fare. However, till date, the first solar ferryboat has not been made operational.
When contacted, River Navigation Department (RND) Superintendent Vikramsinh Raje Bhonsle said that the delay in making the solar electric hybrid passenger ferry boat operational is due to the non-availability of a landing ramp at Chorao side of the River Mandovi.
“We have constructed a floating platform at Chorao specifically for solar electric hybrid passenger ferryboat. Everything is ready now and we will start operating the boat on the Chorao-Panjim route from January 9,” Bhonsle said adding that it will cover the distance in 15 minutes with 12 knots speed.
This particular ferry boat built at a cost of Rs 3.97 crore has three different modes of charging including solar energy and diesel generator. It has a seating capacity of 60 passengers.
