PANAJI
The State government’s River Navigation Department on Wednesday withdrew the introduction of fees for two-wheeler users and the hike in fees for four-wheelers using ferry services on routes across Goa.
Issuing a fresh notification on Wednesday, the department has now specified separate charges for two sets of ferry routes in North and South Goa, exempting two-wheeler users from any charges.
In North Goa, the charges for three-wheelers and cars now will be Rs 7 per trip as against the Rs 40 per ride it had notified in the November 2 notification.
The monthly pass will be Rs 315 as against Rs 600 it had earlier proposed.
On the ferry routes in South Goa, the new charges for three-wheelers and cars will be Rs 10 per trip and the monthly pass for unlimited number of trips will be Rs 400.
The Goa government’s decision to announce a hike in ferry charges for four-wheeler vehicles and to start charging for two-wheeler vehicles had seen rumblings of discontent especially among those living on Goa’s riverine islands and for whom using the ferry is a more convenient way to travel. The State saw protests organised by the Cumbarjua Block of the Congress Committee as well as those organised by other political parties like the Revolutionary Goans, the Aam Aadmi Party as well as locals of Divar led by Sarpanch Mariano.
At a gram sabha of Goltim Navelim that was held recently, the villagers’ voice was unanimous that there should be no fee hike and that the existing rate should be continued.
