A group of residents from Chorao while addressing media persons at the Chorao ferry point on Thursday.
Chodnekars have decided to hold a public meeting on Sunday at the Chorao ferry point to press on their demand for rollback in the RO-RO ferry fare.
The call for the meeting has been given by a group of locals from Chodan, who have expressed anguish over the statement of the local MLA that only a few unhappy souls are opposing the RO-RO ferry fare.
Addressing reporters at the Chorao ferry point on Thursday, Samresh Vaigankar said that three days back they had given an ultimatum to the government to decide on their two demands.
"One was to operate additional ferries along with the RO-RO ferries, during peak hours in the morning and evening, to cater to the huge rush witnessed," Vaigankar said.
“This demand of ours had been met. However, the second demand of rollback in fares was not met and to top that, our MLA rubbed salt to the wounds by saying that there are only a few unhappy souls who are demanding rollback in fares," said Vaigankar.
He claimed that they will continue their agitation till their demand for rollback is met.
"Therefore, we have decided to hold a public meeting of Chodnekars to press on our demand for rollback in RO-RO ferry fare and we appeal to the people of Goa as well as representatives of all political parties to attend the meet to support us," said Ashwin Chodankar.
Former sarpanch Shrikrishna Haldankar said it will be a litmus test for Chodnekars to show the government whether it is only a few individuals or whether majority want a rollback in the RO-RO ferry fare.
Another local, Tony Noronha, however, said if the government fails to listen to their demand, then they will be forced to stop entry of people from outside Chodan, in the island.
"We have done it in the past and forced the government to rollback fare and we are capable of repeating the same now," Noronha warned.
RO-RO ferry taken off
route within 15 days
OLD GOA:
Made operational for the public on July 14, one of the RO-RO ferries was taken off the Ribandar-Chorao route due to a snag even before completing 15 days.
The breakdown happened on Thursday evening during peak hours and only one RO-RO ferry was seen operating along with two old ferries.
Apparently, the RO-RO ferry which broke down was the same one which saw its cable holding the ramp snap midway a few days back.
