A ferry boat stationed at the Chorao Island ramp partially submerged early Monday morning after water reportedly flooded one of its air tanks which helps keep the vessel afloat. No casualties were reported. However if the incident had to take place when the ferry was midstream and full of passengers and vehicles, it would have resulted in a tragedy. Whether it is an operational fault or maintenance issue, the lives of the commuters cannot be put at risk. It is pertinent to note that after much delay the first Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry recently did a trial run on the Chorao-Ribandar route. These ferries are larger than traditional ones and can carry vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, along with passengers. The Ro-Ro ferries are equipped with features like dual passages for entry and exit on both sides. It will benefit daily commuters, office-goers and students. The service will also boost tourism in a big way. When the diesel buses of the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) are being replaced by electric buses, the outdated ferries on all the routes in the state also need to be replaced by Ro-Ro ferries. Goa has a long history of using ferries to cross rivers and estuaries, with popular routes including Old Goa to Divar Island and Panaji to Betim. The Ro-Ro ferry will be a game-changer for river commuting. The government needs to promote the state's diverse river routes as alternate means of transportation to reduce the growing traffic on roads by introducing Ro-Ro ferries on all routes.
