After several attempts over the past couple of years to get a loan from the Palghar district zilla parishad (ZP) to buy a boat to ferry residents from Panju Island to Naigaon jetty, the gram panchayat finally bought one with Rs 25 lakh loan it recently got. Now, the gram panchayat will float a tender for a contract to run the boat. This move comes in view of the dangers private players’ boats pose because of inferior quality. 

Speaking to mid-day, sarpanch of Panju Island, Ashish Bhoir said, “Earlier, private players used to run the boat services, but now we have bought one with the loan we got from the ZP of Palghar district. It was inaugurated by MP Rajendra Gavit and Congress leader Vijay Patil.”