With ten floating jetties, govt eyes cruise tourism

Panaji: With the Maritime India Vision 2030 eyeing an ambitious target of 70 crore footfalls in cruise tourism, Centre hopes to tap a sizeable amount from Goa. Aside from the cruise terminal coming up at Mormugao port, Centre is also counting on 10 concrete floating jetties pulling in more numbers in the state.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India is investing over Rs 15 crore for the floating jetties, which will come up in the Mandovi and Zuari. IWAI has issued the work order to REL Marinetek Ltd.

“State govt will not spend anything for the floating jetties. The IWAI is paying the entire amount. These passenger jetties are for small cruise boats,” said captain of ports Octavio Rodrigues.

The IWAI has noted that as a tourist hotspot, Goa’s rivers are a prime attraction, and travel agencies offer cruises that can last from several hours to a day and more.

“For tourists, the waterways of Goa offer unforgettable experiences by way of these backwater cruises or activities like boat trips for crocodile viewing at Cumbharjua canal, bird watching at Chorao’s Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, experiencing the spice gardens upriver Mandovi, visiting historical riverside monuments at Velha Goa or forts at Chapora or Tiracol by boat, or simply dolphin spotting at the river estuaries,” said the detailed project report prepared by the IWAI.

Even before Centre could declare Goa’s rivers as national waterways, Goa’s rivers were used for navigation and shipping both for cargo and passenger traffic.

For Goa, the DPR has listed eight places for cruises, and while the floating jetties are primarily for tourism purposes, Rodrigues said in the future, they could be used for passenger movement.

The Inland Waterways Development Council took stock of the contract for the 10 concrete floating jetties. The council also deliberated on the proposal for dredging and maintenance of navigation channels of Goa’s rivers.