India’s First Solar Powered Ferry Between Aldona-Panaji

The solar powered ferry move came in as a result of repeated stress by the transport minister Nitin Gadkari to use alternative fuels for running vehicles.

Renewable energy service in India has finally made it to the inland waterways as a solar-powered ferry is planned to carry passengers across Goa’s Aldona-Panaji water route.

PWD Minister of Goa, Ramkrishna Dhavalikar said the boat will be able to ferry 70 passengers at a time.

“We have asked for expression of interest for a first-of-its-kind solar ferry boat. It will operate on the Aldona-Panaji route. If we find it satisfactory, we may acquire two more. The second one will be put on the Sanvordem-Panaji route,” he said. The cost of each of ferry boat is expected to be about Rs 2 crore, Dhavalikar said.

He said the engine of the solar boat will have a converter so that fuel can be also be used to run the craft if required.

“The routes are and to make sure the ferries don’t face any problem during trips, there would be provisions of fuel use, as well,” said Dhavalikar.

However, the move came in as a repeated stress by the transport minister Nitin Gadkari to use alternative fuels for running vehicles.

Further, the boat will also be the first ever solar powered ferry to hit the waters of India’s inland waterways.

Source: TNN