<p>After 55 years of service, ferries, the lone mode of transport for the people of Sharavathi backwaters region, have stayed off the river from Tuesday, as the country’s second longest cable-stayed bridge constructed across the river was opened for traffic on Monday. </p><p>Sources in Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department stated that after the bridge was opened for traffic on Monday, people are using the bridge to travel between Sagar town and their native. Hence, it has been discontinued.</p><p>Speaking to <em>DH</em>, Damodar, Assistant Ferry Inspector at Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department said, earlier, two ferries were being operated on a daily basis. Each ferry was operating around 20 to 22 trips per day carrying over 300 people, three to four vehicles including buses on it. The capacity of the launch was 60 tonnes. </p><p>“We were collecting Re 1 from local people, Rs 10 from tourists and Rs 50 per vehicle of tourists. There was driver, sarang and lascar who were involved in the operation, while the driver and Sarang, deck crew memberd were responsible for the safe navigation and handling of the vessel, the lascar, a member of the crew was often associated with manual labour tasks. Besides, Lascar played a key role in ferrying people from one side of the river to the other side.”</p><p>Recalling the past, he said there were some anxious days during the ferry service. Recently, the steering lock of Sigandur Launch (Sharavathi - 1), which was moving from Holebagilu area of Sharavathi backwaters to Ambargodlu, broke down leaving passengers on the launch worried. The lock of the launch, which was carrying many vehicles and people to Ambargodlu, suddenly broke. It changed direction in the wind without the driver’s control, sending people into tizzy.</p><p>The launch staff immediately contacted the bridge construction company staff and managed to tie a rope with the help of a boat. They managed to pull the launch to the river bank, later. </p><p><strong>Boat service</strong></p><p>It may be mentioned here that Karnataka Electricity Corporation Limited (KPCL) had started a small boat service to connect people of backwaters region with the Sagar town after the construction of the Hirebhaskara Dam in 1946. This had been the sole mode of transport, then.</p><p>Later, with the construction of Linganamakki reservoir in 1964, the area of backwaters also expanded. And KPCL had started small motor boats service and entrusted the responsibility of their maintenance to the Public Works Department in 1969. Since then, people of Sharavathi backwaters region used this launch service to travel between Sagar city and their native from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm. </p><p>In case of emergency, the residents of Tumari, Byakodu, Kattinakaru and Hosakoppa areas had to take an alternative route to reach the Sagar town covering a distance of more than 90 km via Nittur of Hosanagar taluk. With the bridge opened, now, they can reach Sagar town at any time in less than an hour.</p><p>In 1976, the government entrusted the responsibility of maintaining the launches to the Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department. Till 2011, one launch was being operated, later the government provided another facility in 2012 to meet the demand.</p>
<p>After 55 years of service, ferries, the lone mode of transport for the people of Sharavathi backwaters region, have stayed off the river from Tuesday, as the country’s second longest cable-stayed bridge constructed across the river was opened for traffic on Monday. </p><p>Sources in Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department stated that after the bridge was opened for traffic on Monday, people are using the bridge to travel between Sagar town and their native. Hence, it has been discontinued.</p><p>Speaking to <em>DH</em>, Damodar, Assistant Ferry Inspector at Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department said, earlier, two ferries were being operated on a daily basis. Each ferry was operating around 20 to 22 trips per day carrying over 300 people, three to four vehicles including buses on it. The capacity of the launch was 60 tonnes. </p><p>“We were collecting Re 1 from local people, Rs 10 from tourists and Rs 50 per vehicle of tourists. There was driver, sarang and lascar who were involved in the operation, while the driver and Sarang, deck crew memberd were responsible for the safe navigation and handling of the vessel, the lascar, a member of the crew was often associated with manual labour tasks. Besides, Lascar played a key role in ferrying people from one side of the river to the other side.”</p><p>Recalling the past, he said there were some anxious days during the ferry service. Recently, the steering lock of Sigandur Launch (Sharavathi - 1), which was moving from Holebagilu area of Sharavathi backwaters to Ambargodlu, broke down leaving passengers on the launch worried. The lock of the launch, which was carrying many vehicles and people to Ambargodlu, suddenly broke. It changed direction in the wind without the driver’s control, sending people into tizzy.</p><p>The launch staff immediately contacted the bridge construction company staff and managed to tie a rope with the help of a boat. They managed to pull the launch to the river bank, later. </p><p><strong>Boat service</strong></p><p>It may be mentioned here that Karnataka Electricity Corporation Limited (KPCL) had started a small boat service to connect people of backwaters region with the Sagar town after the construction of the Hirebhaskara Dam in 1946. This had been the sole mode of transport, then.</p><p>Later, with the construction of Linganamakki reservoir in 1964, the area of backwaters also expanded. And KPCL had started small motor boats service and entrusted the responsibility of their maintenance to the Public Works Department in 1969. Since then, people of Sharavathi backwaters region used this launch service to travel between Sagar city and their native from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm. </p><p>In case of emergency, the residents of Tumari, Byakodu, Kattinakaru and Hosakoppa areas had to take an alternative route to reach the Sagar town covering a distance of more than 90 km via Nittur of Hosanagar taluk. With the bridge opened, now, they can reach Sagar town at any time in less than an hour.</p><p>In 1976, the government entrusted the responsibility of maintaining the launches to the Ports, Inland and Water Transport Department. Till 2011, one launch was being operated, later the government provided another facility in 2012 to meet the demand.</p>
