Panaji, May 29: RTI activist Sudip Tamhankar and social activist Sanjay Mandrekar have urged the River Navigation Department (RND) to purchase two Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) ferries instead of continuing to hire them from private operator Vijay Marine Services, claiming that the current arrangement is causing a substantial burden on taxpayers.In a representation submitted to the Director of River Navigation Department, the activists cited information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, alleging that the RND earned only ₹74.32 lakh from the operation of the Ro-Ro ferries Dwarka and Gangotri between July 2025 and March 2026. During the same period, they claimed the department paid ₹7.76 crore as hire charges to Vijay Marine Services, resulting in a gap of approximately ₹7.02 crore, which they described as a burden on the public exchequer.The representation further states that the last ferry boat constructed by Vijay Marine Services for the department in February 2024 reportedly cost around ₹1.10 crore. Based on this, the activists argued that the amount spent on hiring could have been used to procure multiple ferry vessels, creating long-term assets for the government.Tamhankar and Mandrekar noted that the BJP had promised a bridge connecting Chorao and Ribandar during the 2012 Assembly elections. Since the bridge has not yet materialised, they said the government must ensure efficient and cost-effective ferry services for residents of Chorao, Mayem and Bicholim.The activists have also raised several operational concerns regarding the Ro-Ro ferries, including the alleged absence of proper toilet facilities, non-installation of CCTV cameras despite assurances, lack of prominently displayed rate boards, non-responsive emergency contact numbers, pollution concerns despite claims of low-emission operations, poor maintenance of ferry infrastructure and non-functional air-conditioning facilities.According to the representation, if the current hiring model continues for the next five years, the government may spend several crores more on private operators. They have therefore urged the River Navigation Department to explore purchasing Ro-Ro ferries instead of relying on long-term rentals from private entities.The memorandum has been officially received by the River Navigation Department and calls for a review of the existing Ro-Ro ferry service model in the larger public interest.