Panaji: The Captain of Ports (CoP) department has greenlit a Rs 6.6 crore project to restore and modernise two jetties in the Mandovi river, along with the replacement of the ageing Campal lighthouse, as part of navigational safety.The Panaji jetty, a vital hub for river cruises and gaming vessel feeder services, is set for urgent structural retrofitting.Officials from the Captain of Ports department said that years of exposure to the “corrosive marine environment” and heavy operational loads necessitated the strengthening of its waterfront infrastructure. Given that the Panaji jetty is an active port, authorities said that care will be taken to minimise disruption to vessel movements and passenger safety during the repairs.The second jetty slated for repairs is the Britona jetty, which is also under the captain of ports department.Commissioned in 2011, it is primarily utilised for berthing departmental vessels. Govt wants to upgrade the jetty to meet International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code norms, which include facilities for handling dry and wet waste, bilge oil, and other ship-generated waste in compliance with the marine pollution (MARPOL) regulations.Port security, including CCTV surveillance, metal detectors, and other security infrastructure, will be enhanced at the jetty and audited, officials said.Meanwhile, the department has decided to erect a temporary lighthouse at Campal, as the existing structure is dilapidated and needs to be demolished. The 23-m-tall concrete lighthouse situated on the bank of the Mandovi river has served as a navigational beacon for over four decades, but authorities have concluded it is beyond repair and must be rebuilt.“To prevent a blackout period on National Waterway 68 (Mandovi river), a temporary steel light tower will be fully operational before the demolition of the old structure,” said a department official.Port officials said the restoration of the two jetties will be properly coordinated to ensure 24/7 operations, including river cruise passenger movements and feeder boat services.
