If Cortalim highway junction faces heavy traffic junctions, the ferry route from Cortaim to Marcel is always jampacked. Speaking about the problems, locals face, they cite frequent breakdowns and shortage of ferry boats. “We face problems due to the shortage of ferry boats which is why the ferry boats are loaded with vehicles and passengers when they travel during the rush hour,” said a commuter.
Locals from Ponda, Vasco and surrounding areas use the Marcaim- Cortalim, Durbhat Rasoi and Adpoi- Rasi ferry services frequently. This is no small number with thousands crossing Zuari River using these routes daily. At times, when the boats are packed with commuters, it is a risk to life and property given that two and four-wheelers are also ferried across. Besides this, there are also frequent breakdowns.
Adpoi resident Prashant Naik explained that there two ferry boats who take the Marcaim- Cortalim route every hour.
“This is one of the longest water routes as it covers a distance of 1.5 km and takes almost an hour to get across. During peak hours, the ferry boats are not enough and more ferry boats are required for this route. This can reduce the crowds and make it a safer trip for passengers,” he added. Similar demands for more ferries on other routes as well as increasing the frequency of trips have been made. Hanumanth Naik blamed the River Navigation Department for the current mess and gave the example of how they have failed to act even though one of the boats on the Durbhat-Rasoi route has stopped working for the last five months.
