By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar

Panaji, Nov 21 (IANS): Goa has the potential to become the Venice of the East if it taps its intricate network of inland waterways for commuting, suggests Rajiv Somani, chairman and managing director of Drishti Marine, promoter of the state's first private ferry service.

Somani, whose agency also operates a private lifeguard service along Goa's coastline, said that the ferry service also adds to the range of offerings, in terms of "things to do" in Goa.

"The only model really close to this is the one in Venice where one can travel through waterways all the time," Somani told IANS in an interview.

"The ferry service is more of a leisure experience. The picturesque ferry service adds to the range of offerings in terms of things to do in Goa for the hundreds and thousands of tourists who visit the state. Additionally, it also acts as a premium transit service for tourists and local residents.

"We are only targeting less than five percent of the population arriving at the airport. We understand that there are people willing to pay the fee for the trip," he said, adding that the service would begin later this month, when the tourism season begins to peak in the coastal state.

The daily ferry service will function with the help of two 40-seater, high-speed catamarans, which will ferry commuters between designated pick-up points like the state capital Panaji, heritage centres like Old Goa, beaches like Baga, Aguada and Sinquerim and the Dabolim airport.

The Airport Ferry Terminal is located at Baina beach, Vasco da Gama, and is approximately five kilometres from the Goa airport in Dabolim. A free shuttle service will be available between the ferry terminal and the airport for the convenience of passengers arriving at the airport.

Fares for the ferry service range from Rs 100 for a ride between Old Goa and Panaji to Rs 800 for a trip between the Airport Ferry Terminal (AFT) at Baina and Panaji.

The ferry will operate from 22 temporary jetties spread across the state, including tourism vantage points.

"In Phase 1 and 2 we are looking at a mix of about 22 jetties. Of these, 11 are existing jetties and 11 will be floating jetties which will be constructed by us. The present government jetties exist at Panaji, Old Goa, Chapora and Sinquerim, among other places," he said.

Asked if the service would be competing with the state's aggressive taxi lobby, which has been combative vis-a-vis introduction of alternative modes of mass transport, Somani said: "We are not competing with the taxi operators. One thing we were always clear about: We will not do anything which is competition to the local community".

Somani also said that ferry services had immense potential in Goa, which is criss-crossed with waterways.

"Goa has an excellent network of waterways; what's needed is the right kind of infrastructure. One doesn't need to erect concrete jetties everywhere; a floating jetty like the one we are currently building in Baina works just as effectively," he said, adding that the ferry would help better water-related experiences for visitors.