Panaji, 25 June 2025:
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government after yet another ferry boat suffered a breakdown in the Cumbarjua canal on Tuesday, nearly leading to a major tragedy. GPCC President Amit Patkar termed the incident not as an accident but as “criminal negligence,” accusing the government of putting lives at risk through repeated failures and sheer apathy.
In a strongly worded statement, the Congress alleged that the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, has failed to maintain even basic safety standards in the ferry transport system — a daily lifeline for several riverine villages in Goa.
“This is not just a technical breakdown. It’s the result of deep-rooted political negligence, corruption, and misgovernance,” Patkar said, citing multiple earlier incidents and viral videos showing ferry boats drifting mid-canal, shattered ramps, broken-down vessels, and the absence of life jackets or emergency drills.
Congress also highlighted a worrying pattern of blame-shifting, wherein accountability is passed from the Chief Minister to the River Navigation Department (RND) Minister Subhash Phaldesai, then to officers, and ultimately pinned on coxswains — leaving the systemic issues unaddressed.
Demanding immediate action, the Congress Party put forward a four-point demand charter:
- Immediate suspension of responsible RND officials and a criminal inquiry into the repeated ferry failures.
- A comprehensive safety audit of all ferry boats, ramps, terminals, and related infrastructure.
- Deployment of life-saving equipment, trained staff, and strict enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Allocation of urgent funds for repairs and modernization of the ferry system, instead of splurging on publicity and ceremonial events.
Patkar further slammed the BJP government for prioritizing “lavish PR events” over people’s safety. “They have money for ribbon-cutting ceremonies and publicity stunts but not a paisa for transport safety. This government has failed Goa,” he said.
Calling the situation unacceptable, the GPCC warned that Goans are not expendable and vowed that the people will hold the BJP accountable for this “betrayal of public trust.”
The latest incident in Cumbarjua has reignited concerns over ferry safety in Goa, with public sentiment increasingly turning against what many see as a crumbling transport system ignored by those in power.
