Digital Goa, July 14 – Two Roll On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ferries, Dwarka and Gangotri, were officially deployed on the busy Ribandar–Chorao ferry route today. During the launch, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the Goa government is considering deploying similar Ro-Ro ferries on other routes across the state. Built by Vijay Marine, the high-speed, zero carbon emission ferries will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each vessel can carry approximately 16 four-wheelers, 40 two-wheelers, and about 100 passengers. The Ro-Ro system allows vehicles to board from one end and exit from the other, a feature that is expected to drastically cut commute times and offer much-needed relief to residents of Chorao and neighboring areas who travel to Panaji daily. The project has been under discussion since 2017. As of now, only nine Ro-Ro ferries are operational across India — Assam (4), Gujarat (2), Kerala (1), and Mumbai region (2).
