OLD GOA
Residents of Divar Island have been made to suffer as the Divar-Ribandar route is yet to be operational.
To make matters worse, only two ferries are operated along the Divar-Old Goa route on several occasions, resulting in a long queue of vehicles at both ferry wharfs.
Locals have now demanded that the Divar-Ribandar ferry route be made operational immediately to alleviate the sufferings of the locals.
Speaking to The Goan, a local, Chillaya Sawant, expressed frustration over the inordinate delays faced while wanting to cross from Divar island to the mainland.
“For a few months, only one route -- Divar-Old Goa -- is operational and the Divar-Ribandar route is yet to be made operational despite completion of the work on the ferry ramp,” Sawant stated.
“To aggravate the problem, on many occasions like today, only two ferries are operated on the Divar-Old Goa route which results in a long queue of vehicles waiting to cross from Divar to the mainland and likewise,” Sawant informed.
He further questioned the operations of only two ferries on the lone route when, in fact, there should have been four ferries.
“Earlier, two ferries each were being operated along both the routes. So, naturally, there should have been four ferries operating along the lone operational Divar-Old Goa route, with one of them kept as a standby in case of breakdown of any ferry,” Sawant pointed out.
“During emergencies, it becomes difficult for even the 108 ambulance to cross to the other side thereby putting the lives of the patients in danger,” he further added.
Another local also concurred with Sawant and demanded immediate operations of ferries along the Divar-Ribandar route to alleviate the sufferings of Divarkars.
