Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The solar hybrid ferry project, once promoted as a green initiative to revolutionise water transport in Goa, has now come under fire in the State Assembly, with River Navigation Minister Subhash Phal Dessai admitting the vessel was not built as per specifications and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao alleging a “mission commission” scam.
Responding to questions raised in the House, Minister Phal Dessai stated that the project has been scrapped after it was found that the hybrid ferry did not meet technical standards. “When we realised this, the last payment was stopped. We did not pay around ₹59 lakh to the agency,” he said, confirming that the boat remains unused even three years after its purchase. “It’s problematic. We are trying to sell it, but there are no buyers yet,” he added.
LoP Yuri Alemao raised serious concerns about the feasibility and intent behind the purchase of the hybrid ferry. “There is no report stating it was a feasible project. Why was it procured in the first place? This appears to be a total mission commission,” Alemao said, calling for accountability in the failed initiative.
Further adding to concerns over water transport operations, Phal Dessai revealed that ₹1.10 crore has been spent solely on the maintenance of the Betim ferry—enough, he admitted, to buy a new one. “The ferry is 10 years old, so costs are high,” the minister clarified.
Overall, the state has spent approximately ₹35 crore on ferry maintenance over the past five years. Currently, 32 ferry vessels operate across 18 routes in Goa. The River Navigation Department (RND) has a dedicated marine workshop staffed with 103 personnel to handle operations and upkeep. Given that most ferries run for nearly 18 hours a day, heavy wear and tear is unavoidable, the minister explained.
The revelations have triggered fresh scrutiny of infrastructure spending and the efficacy of green transport projects in the state.
