Team Herald
PANJIM: River Navigation Minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Sunday said that his department has no manpower to make Goa’s first solar electric hybrid passenger ferry boat operational which was commissioned in October last year.
Built at a cost of Rs 3.9 crore, the boat is lying unused at the floating jetty in Panjim.
As per the announcement made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the time of commissioning the ferry boat on October 13, 2022, it was supposed to ply on Chorao-Panjim route and to facilitate the same, landing ramp has been constructed at Chorao side of the River Mandovi. Sawant then had announced that for the first 15 days the services would be free and later passengers will have to pay a nominal fare, however, till date it has not been made operational.
“We don’t have trained manpower to operate as it is a solar electric hybrid passenger ferry boat and not the conventional ferry boat. And since it is only meant for passengers, we are analysing how to generate revenue at least for the manpower that would be required to operate the ferry boat,” Phal Dessai said.
He further said that the department is exploring options if it can be used for tourism related activities and generate revenue.
The particular ferry boat has three different modes of charging, including solar energy and diesel generator. It has a capacity of 60 passengers.