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Navi Mumbai: Passenger ferry boat numbers between the Gateway of India and Gharapuri (Elephanta) Island have reduced significantly after the tragic accident on Dec 18 in which 15 lives were lost. The enforcement of life jackets and other norms by the authorities are among the reasons cited for the drop of visitors by the operators.
The ferry operators’ body, Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha, said on the weekend following the accident, return ferry services more than halved to around 30 Saturday and 50 Sunday compared with around 80 on Saturdays and 110 on Sundays preceding the tragedy.
On weekdays, 10-12 ferry boats are operating both ways now as against 24-30 earlier.
Maharashtra Maritime Board officials confirmed the drop in services.
An Indian Navy speedboat had crashed into a passenger vessel, Neel Kamal, in which 15 died while 101 were rescued.
The sanstha’s chairman Sardar Mahadkar said, “We have observed a massive drop in the number of ferry services between the two locations after the accident. Further, visitors do not want to wear life jackets during their boat journey and hence return.”
Vinayak Karanje, the maritime board’s port inspector at Gharapuri, said, “Increased surveillance with police deployment at the jetties (the Gateway of India and Elephanta) is ensuring compliance to regulations. There are strict checks and restrictions on visitor numbers on ferry vessels within the approved capacity. I observed fewer visitors and boats on Monday.”
Navi Mumbai: Passenger ferry boat numbers between the Gateway of India and Gharapuri (Elephanta) Island have reduced significantly after the tragic accident on Dec 18 in which 15 lives were lost. The enforcement of life jackets and other norms by the authorities are among the reasons cited for the drop of visitors by the operators.
The ferry operators’ body, Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha, said on the weekend following the accident, return ferry services more than halved to around 30 Saturday and 50 Sunday compared with around 80 on Saturdays and 110 on Sundays preceding the tragedy.
On weekdays, 10-12 ferry boats are operating both ways now as against 24-30 earlier.
Maharashtra Maritime Board officials confirmed the drop in services.
An Indian Navy speedboat had crashed into a passenger vessel, Neel Kamal, in which 15 died while 101 were rescued.
The sanstha’s chairman Sardar Mahadkar said, “We have observed a massive drop in the number of ferry services between the two locations after the accident. Further, visitors do not want to wear life jackets during their boat journey and hence return.”
Vinayak Karanje, the maritime board’s port inspector at Gharapuri, said, “Increased surveillance with police deployment at the jetties (the Gateway of India and Elephanta) is ensuring compliance to regulations. There are strict checks and restrictions on visitor numbers on ferry vessels within the approved capacity. I observed fewer visitors and boats on Monday.”
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