Rs 16-crore worth Old Goa floating jetty in bad shape

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The floating jetty at Old Goa, which was inaugurated just 16 months ago, and built at an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore, is in a dilapidated condition allegedly due to lack of maintenance.

Located near the Viceroy’s Arch, the jetty is the first ‘hybrid’ jetty (with certain floating components and fixed components) and has concrete floating pontoons (a floating structure that serves as a dock) and was built by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). It was made operational in December 2016.

The floating pontoons platforms of the jetty are damaged wherein the tiles on one of the floating pontoons have been broken and on another pontoon there were no tiles or foam. It was observed that the bollard used to tie mooring rope on the floating pontoons has also been damaged. The floating pontoons platforms iron rods are exposed and rusted. The access road to the jetty on one side of the road has been blocked.

A catamaran was anchored at the jetty. A local claimed that this catamaran occasionally operates to ferry passengers towards Panaji and vice versa, however, looking at the condition of the jetty, it looks like it is unsafe to operate ferry services.

The main aim behind setting up of the jetty was that waterway would help reduce traffic congestion on the roads leading to the pilgrimage site of Old Goa, especially, during the feast of St Francis Xavier, and exposition of relics of the saint.

It is learnt that the GSIDC has failed to officially hand over the jetty to the Captain of Ports even after 16 months since it was thrown open to the public.