Panaji: Goa’s first roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries, named Gangotri and Dwarka, operating on the Ribandar-Chorao Island route completed one year of operations on Tuesday.Director, river navigation, Vikramsinh Rajebhosale said the vessel has been operating for around 12 to 13 hours daily over the past year, with breakdowns limited to a maximum of about 15 days for maintenance and repairs.“The RoRo ferry has demonstrated operational advantage over the traditional ferries in Goa, particularly in terms of maintenance. Traditional ferry vessels typically require around 45 days of downtime annually for repairs, maintenance and statutory surveys, whereas the RoRo ferry has remained out of service for only about 15 days during its first year of operation,” he told TOI.The official attributed the reduced downtime to the ferry’s design, noting that its thrusters can be repaired while the vessel remains on deck, unlike traditional ferries that often require more extensive maintenance procedures, especially in the monsoon.RND is expected to prepare a performance assessment of the RoRo ferry following the completion of its first year. The review will compare the vessel’s operational efficiency and maintenance requirements with those of traditional ferry services.“There were no major breakdowns, accidents or special incidents involving the RoRo ferry during its first year. Its operations were smooth throughout the period,” he said.The crossing now takes only about 12 to 13 minutes, an improvement over the 30 minutes required by traditional ferry boats. Each vessel can accommodate up to 100 passengers, 15 cars, and 30 to 40 two-wheelers.On the proposed second RoRo ferry project at the São Pedro-Divar route, he said that work on one approach ramp has been completed, while construction of the ramp on the opposite bank is underway and is expected to be completed in the next two to three months.
