River Navigation Minister Subhash Faldesai laying the keel for two new ferry boats at a cost of Rs 4.41 crore. Pic Santosh Mirajkar.
River Navigation Minister Subhash Faldesai on Thursday laid the keel for the construction of two twin screw faster ferry boats at a cost of Rs 4.41 crore at the Vijai Marine Shipyard, even as he said there will be teething problems whenever new technology is implemented in any sector.
After laying the keel at the Vijay Marine Shipyard at Loutolim in the presence of MLA Kedar Naik, the Minister said the Roll On Roll Off ferry service not only offers better service, but has potential to generate handsome revenue.
Speaking to the media, Faldesai said each of the two ferries will cost the exchequer Rs 2.20 crore, clarifying that the RO RO ferry has been given by Vijai Marine service on rental basis to the government. “We will see the performance of the Ro Ro ferry service and the conventional ferries. If some people accuse the government that the RO RO ferry has resulted in inconveniences to the commuters, how come the revenue has gone up from Rs 6000 to Rs 30,000 a day on the route. We have also plugged the revenue leakage”, he said.
Saying that the 32 conventional ferries were generating total revenue amounting to Rs 50-60 lakh per annum, Faldesai said the revenue from one RO RO ferry will touch Rs one crore. “Just by increasing the fare by Rs 5, we have generated huge revenue. People should also think on spending little extra if they want better service at cheaper rate”, he added.
Saying the two new ferries to be built at the Vijai Marine Shipyard at Loutolim is a smaller version of the RO RO services, he said the two ferry boats will be deployed at the Batim route. “We are moving forward in improving ferry services in Goa with new technology. With new technology, there will be teething problems and my ministry is committed to address all problems to provide better ferry service for the people of Goa”, he added.
When the media drew his attention to problems staring at the RO RO service, Faldesai said these were teething problems which the department has addressed immediately.
