Porvorim: Goa’s River Navigation Department plans to ply `Water Taxis’ in its inland waterways, the first of such project to start between Panaji to Old Goa route.
State Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a performance budget of River Navigation Department for the financial year 2019-2020 tabled on the floor of the House during ongoing monsoon Session has also said that “ferry boats running on solar power would also be introduced in the State on different routes.”
Listing out anticipated achievements for the current Financial year, the document tabled on the floor of the House has said that Water Taxis will be introduced from Panaji to Old Goa with the help of experts.
Though the details of the service is not mentioned in the document, the department has also said that during the current fiscal, the department proposes to replace three old ferry boats by new ones and procure new and fast solar energy driven hybrid ferry boats between Chorao to Panaji or Aldona to Panaji, both in North Goa.
The department also plans to upgrate existing ferry ramps and jetties and provide better facilities to all the ferry routes.
The River Navigation Department (RND) has a fleet of 34 ferry boats which cater to the different inland routes, connecting state’s islands to the mainstream.
The performance budget document tabled on the floor has said that during the Financial Year 2018-19, the more stress was laid to improve the existing ferry services.
Central government sponsored SAGARMALA project has also funded reconstruction of nine jetties in the State, the document reads adding that the consultant has completed Techno Feasibility study of these facilities and actual construction (of jetties) will start this year.
