Rupesh Samant

Vasco, Feb 21: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday inaugurated country’s first-ever floating jetty in Goa.

The jetty located in Panaji was inaugurated in presence of chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday morning. Later, the minister also inaugurated the immigration facility at the cruise terminal in Vasco, which will facilitate the cruise tourism in the state.

“The floating jetty which I have inaugurated in the morning is the country’s first such facility. It is made out of cement-concrete,” Mandaviya told reporters in Vasco.

Union AYUSH minister Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Vinay Tendulkar were also present on the occasion.

He said that the construction of floating jetty will boost the inland waterways in the state, and also encourage the transportation through the waters. The jetty is located in state port department’s premises on the bank of River Mandovi in Panaji. The minister said that in future, three such jetties would be constructed in the state.

“These jetties are environment-friendly and can be constructed in short time,” he said. Speaking about the immigration counter at the cruise terminal in Mormugao Port Trust, he said the facility will help the foreigners who arrive here through cruise ships. Goa annually receives 45 international cruises in addition to regular operating domestic cruise boats.

He said both these facilities – floating jetty and immigration counter at cruise terminal – will help to increase tourist footfalls in the state. Mandaviya said that the Goa government has requested the centre to expand the existing Cruise terminal.

“We have considered their demand and location is being scouted to having new cruise terminal,” he said. The minister said that the state will also have a ropeway connecting two tourist places, which would be an added attraction.