Community Demands Action on Gardesana Highway and Lake Transport Costs
“Either that, or we will go all the way to Rome to assert our rights.” This was the essence of the ultimatum issued after the crowded meeting held Wednesday evening in Limone, attended by entrepreneurs from the municipalities on the Brescia shore part of the “Riviera dei Limoni” and some representatives of the Unione Commercio Turismo dell’Alto Garda e Ledro.
Once again, their warning was directed at the Trentino provincial institutions and the navigation company “Navigarda.” Three key points emerged from the heated debate, which saw the participation of as many as 500 people, during which the representatives Chicco Risatti from Limone and Franco Gamba from Riva were elected:
“1) Reopening of the Gardesana highway by the end of March at the latest; 2) satisfaction regarding the news about the rapid completion (by the end of June) of the tunnel between Riva and Limone; 3) unbearable and unsustainable economic burden of transfer costs through Navigarda and protest against the speculation by a government entity on the state of emergency and citizens’ hardships.”
Responses from Navigarda and tensions over the service
Navigarda responded swiftly with a calm, yet almost ironic, statement. “The service,” the navigation company wrote, “is what has been requested by the municipalities affected by the landslide. Moreover, the municipalities are unable to mediate the needs of the population and continue to request schedule changes that conflict with each other.”
In addition, the company’s director, engineer Marcello Coppola, emphasizes Navigarda’s great commitment, the unquestionable quality of the service, and criticizes the emphasis placed on a breakdown (on New Year’s, ed.), which was promptly repaired. Regarding fares, Navigarda is equally firm:
“They are set by the Ministry of Transport and Navigation, including subscriptions that significantly reduce costs; it would be interesting to compare these costs with land transportation.”
Therefore, accusations are denied, and the statement concludes with “The mayor of Limone states by phone that he dissociates himself entirely from what was said at yesterday’s meeting.” Does this signal that the “front on the Brescia shore” is splitting? Perhaps. Certainly, among those satisfied with lake transport is also the municipality of Riva. “Navigarda,” said Vice Mayor Matteotti, “is doing its best. That said, we must work to accelerate the construction of the tunnel.”