Panaji: Two newly built ferries will be commissioned on the Panaji-Betim route at 4.30pm on Friday on the Betim side of the Mandovi river. Currently stationed at the marine workshop at Betim, the ferries are ready for deployment following what officials have described as “fully satisfactory” trials.“The vessels named Salaulim and Kushavati completed trial runs earlier this week and have since been cleared for operations by the survey authorities,” said director of river navigation, Vikram Rajebhosale.Designed to handle passenger and vehicular traffic efficiently, each ferry has the capacity to carry up to nine cars and as many as 150 passengers. With a speed of approximately nine knots, the vessels are slightly faster than the existing fleet that sails at seven knots and can accommodate only 100 passengers and six cars.The Panaji-Betim ferry route is a vital inland water transport system, catering to an estimated 11,000 passengers daily. It also serves as an alternative to the heavily congested Mandovi bridge corridor.The RND expects the new ferries to significantly ease pressure on the road traffic, particularly for the commuters from Calangute, Betim and Porvorim.Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore each, the two vessels represent a combined investment of approximately Rs 4 crore.
