Team Goemkarponn
CHORAO: Efforts to recover the partially submerged Betim ferry received a significant boost with the arrival of a second pontoon equipped with an additional crane at Chorao Island. Officials believe this added infrastructure will finally enable a full-scale salvage operation to begin.
The ferry has remained stuck at the Chorao ramp since July 23, after one of its tanks flooded. Although three motorcycles that sank with it were recovered the same day, repeated attempts to lift the ferry itself have failed for over ten days.
According to the River Navigation Department (RND), poor underwater visibility has been a major obstacle. Divers trying to secure chains beneath the vessel found them slipping off repeatedly in the murky water.
RND Director Vikram Raje Bhosale said the ferry can only be secured from below—a job only divers can perform—but cloudy water conditions have made this nearly impossible so far.
Local residents have expressed cautious optimism following the arrival of the new pontoon. “At last, a second pontoon is here. Hopefully they can now lift the ferry soon. Once it’s secured, pumps can remove water from the engine room so it can float again,” said Eusebio D’Silva, a resident.
Earlier salvage attempts using hired pontoons failed due to the riverbank’s shallow depth, which made it difficult to position equipment. High tides and technical issues also hampered operations.
Officials now say the improved setup offers renewed hope that the Betim ferry can finally be raised and taken to the RND workshop for repairs.
