Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Minister for River Navigation Subhash Phal Dessai said that his department will begin charging two-wheeler riders for using ferry boat services throughout Goa.
“All of Goa will charge the same amount for tickets: Rs. 5 for two-wheelers and Rs. 40 for four-wheelers. The department will, nevertheless, offer the option of a monthly pass that costs Rs. 600 for four-wheelers and Rs. 150 for two-wheelers,” said Phaldessai.
He further said that tickets and passes will be accessible via an app that has a payment gateway integrated into it.
Phaldessai said he is trying to make money so that he can improve the ferry service.
Speaking further, Subhash said that in the next six months, faster RORO ferries that can carry three times the load of traditional ferries will be available in Goa.
This service would be made available through an app and commuters will not have to stand in long queues to obtain the pass, he said.
“It is a very minimum charge. We want to introduce new Ro-Ro ferries. It will start in another six months. They will take three times the load than the conventional ferryboats,” the minister pointed out.
As per the sources, the department spends Rs 45 crore per year on running 32 ferry boats.
“The department is spending around Rs 1 crore per fleet per year. It spends Rs 2.5 lakh on staff per month per ferry boat. Then fuel charges and maintenance charges are there,” sources said.
