PANAJI
Goa will get 10 concrete floating jetties on the Mandovi and Zuari rivers to support water sports activities, backwater tourism and cruise services, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Rs 13.54-crore project has been awarded to Marinetek and is fully funded under a scheme of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), with the jetties expected to improve passenger and tourist transport along the two major rivers.
The report mentioned that the initiative is a part of the State government’s plan to strengthen inland waterways as an alternative transport network and to support tourism-linked river activities.
In January 2025, the IWAI had said that with Maritime India Vision 2030 targeting 70 crore footfalls in cruise tourism, the Centre expects Goa to contribute a significant share.
It noted that as a major tourist hotspot, Goa’s rivers are a key attraction with travel agencies offering cruise experiences ranging from a few hours to day-long journeys and longer itineraries.
The survey report further stated that the Ports Department has taken several measures to modernise river navigation infrastructure, including upgrading ferry services and strengthening landing facilities.
Goa currently operates 32 ferryboats and two Ro-Ro ferryboats across 18 ferry routes. Two Ro-Ro ferry services were commissioned on July 17, 2025, on the Chodan“Ribandar route under a build-and-operate model.
The department has also introduced a digital application to enable online payments on Ro-Ro ferry services.
In another move to reduce operational costs, 11 ferry boats across nine routes have been privatised through the Goa Recruitment and Employment Society, which it said resulted in savings of around 60 per cent in government expenditure previously incurred on flotilla staff salaries.
Infrastructure upgrades have also been undertaken at key ferry points, while the widening, repair and reconstruction of ramps at Old Goa, Ribandar and Betim were completed during the financial year 2025-26 for Rs 2.40 crore to ease vehicular movement.
The department has also begun maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Chapora River to facilitate the smooth movement of vessels. The work, covering a stretch of 1,000 metres, has been awarded to Enrich Global Infra Limited, Mumbai, for Rs 7.51 crore and commenced in December 2025.
Meanwhile, construction of a state-of-the-art terminal building at Panaji Jetty is 93 percent complete. The Rs 48.87-crore project will house administrative offices and a port control centre and is expected to serve as a prominent maritime landmark.
On the revenue front, the department earned Rs 21.78 crore in maritime revenue during FY 2025-26 (till December).
2 new Ro-Ro ferries, 3 new ferry boats proposed
VASCO: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday stated that provision of Rs 86 crore has been made for the River Navigation Department. Out of this amount, Rs 75.50 crore is allocated for revenue expenditure, while Rs 10.50 crore is earmarked for capital expenditure.
Sawant also announced a proposal to start two new Ro-Ro ferry services on the San Pedro“Divar route, while three new ferry boats will be introduced to replace the old ferries.
