The Goa Ferries Act, 1990 was introduced to regulate ferry services in the State. Its aim was to bring order, safety, fair pricing, and proper management to ferry transport. The law provided a structure for how ferries should operate, how routes should be managed, and how tolls should be fixed. It was meant to make water transport safe, reliable, and affordable. So what went wrong? When did the losses begin, and why? These questions need honest review. Were the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) reports ever properly studied? Has there been serious examination of where the system failed?
Today, the government has decided to privatise some ferry services to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and modernise the fleet. Officials say that running the ferries under the government has become too expensive, mainly due to high salary and overtime expenses. Under the new model, some services may shift to a public-private partnership (PPP), and newer ferries like Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessels may be introduced. Efficiency is important, but the government must remember that public services exist for the people, not for profit alone.
The River Navigation Department (RND) estimates savings of over Rs 14 crore a year by outsourcing operations on nearly half of its routes. It has shifted from a costly two-shift staffing pattern to a three-shift model run by a government-linked non-profit society. But if officers and systems were so “efficient”, why were losses not prevented earlier? If planning was strong, should the ferries not be making profit instead of suffering loss?
The government says it wants to replace old ferries with more efficient and environment-friendly vessels, including ferries that allow vehicles onboard. Some older ferries have already been sold to private operators due to low ridership. But if the government can operate buses at a loss for public welfare, why can’t it maintain ferries that are equally essential for riverside communities?
Privatisation is being justified as a way to make the service more flexible. However, people simply want safe and reliable transport at a reasonable fare. Not every ferry route will generate profit ” and that is acceptable. Public service does not always have to be a revenue-making model. Profit must not come before public convenience.
If the government wants to improve ferry services, the focus should be on better planning, maintenance, trained staff, and transparent operations. Maybe the need is not privatisation but improved management. Let the public continue travelling safely across the waters. Do not sink an important public service in the name of cost-cutting.
