The recent incident of a ferry sinking at Chorao, though without casualties, has once again exposed the deep rot in the Goa River Navigation Department (RND). This was no natural disaster or freak accident, it was a direct outcome of systematic neglect, bureaucratic apathy, and misplaced priorities.
The people of Chorao, Divar and other island communities who depend daily on these ferry services are not asking for luxuries, they are demanding safety, reliability, and respect.
The Chorao ferry sinking could have easily turned tragic had it occurred during peak hours. The fact that no lives were lost is not an achievement but a matter of sheer luck. Let us not forget that this isn’t an isolated case. Time and again, ferries across Goa have shown signs of poor maintenance, ageing infrastructure, and technical failures.
What has the government done? Very little – apart from issuing statements, promising revamps, and spending lavishly on grandiose, often impractical, schemes.
The islands of Chorao and Divar are not tourist attractions alone; they are home to thousands of Goans who rely entirely on the ferry system for commuting to schools, colleges, workplaces, and hospitals.
When a ferry sinks or stalls, it is not just a mechanical failure, it is a direct assault on the daily lives and dignity of these citizens. The people of these islands deserve more than empty words and photo-ops from ministers
Subhash Phal Dessai, the Minister for River Navigation, has so far been all talk and no action. His department is responsible for the upkeep and functioning of the ferry services, yet incidents like this continue to occur with disturbing frequency. While the minister focuses on grand announcements and expensive projects like roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferries that cost crores and serve limited routes, the basic safety and maintenance of existing ferries are being grossly neglected.
A ro-ro ferry might be the solution in certain busy channels like Betim-Panjim, but that does not justify ignoring the ageing fleet that connects the islanders with the mainland. For people in Chorao and Divar, the rusty, overused, and under-maintained ferries are a lifeline, not a luxury. Spending crores on flashy ferries while ignoring basic upkeep is a tragic misallocation of resources, emblematic of a government more concerned with optics than outcomes.
The public deserves answers. How often are ferries inspected? Who clears them for service? Are safety protocols followed? And most importantly—why was this particular ferry allowed to operate if it was in such poor condition? A mere internal inquiry by the RND will not suffice.
What is needed is an independent probe, preferably by a judicial or technical committee, to investigate the incident and fix responsibility. Accountability must start from the top.
This incident also underscores a deeper governance problem in Goa. Across departments—be it water, power, transport, or tourism—there’s an overdependence on hollow claims and under-delivery on ground. Ferries have been sinking metaphorically for a long time in Goa; now they’re literally going underwater.
It is high time the state government adopts a comprehensive ferry management plan that includes:
* Immediate technical audits of all ferries operating across Goa.
* Routine maintenance schedules strictly implemented and publicly disclosed.
* Training and deployment of skilled technical staff on all ferry routes.
* Gradual but timely phasing out of outdated ferries with safer, modern replacements.
* Citizen feedback mechanisms that allow commuters to raise alarms before disaster strikes.
A state that prides itself on being a premier tourist destination cannot afford to let its basic transport infrastructure fall apart. The ferry system in Goa is not just about crossing rivers—it’s about bridging lives, livelihoods and trust in public governance.
The Chorao ferry incident must not be buried under a bureaucratic pile of excuses and forgotten tomorrow. Let it be the wake-up call that forces the government to act decisively, transparently, and urgently—before the next sinking leads to an actual tragedy.
