0
0
Water taxi on 12 routes and ROPAX services on 4 new routes will start soon
By PIB Kolkata
7th April, 2021
Shri Manuskh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, chaired a meeting to review the Urban Water Transportation projects for Mumbai, Maharashtra. Senior Officials of the Ministry, Chairperson of Mumbai Port and officials of Maharashtra Maritime Board and other stakelhoders were present in the meeting.
To promote eco-friendly waterways transportation and reduce the traffic load of crowded Mumbai city roads, 4 new routes for ROPAX ferry services and 12 new routes of Water Taxi are planned to be operational by December, 2021.
Currently, ROPAX ((roll-on/roll-off passenger) service from Bhaucha Dhakka(Ferry Wharf) to Mandwa (Alibag) is successfully operating by reducing the road journey of 110 km to about 18 km by using waterways, thereby reducing travel time of daily commuters from about 3-4 hours to merely one hour. After the huge benefits being reaped of this ferry service, similar services are planned to be operational at various other routes in Mumbai. The details of the new routes are as follows:Origin Destination Distance by Waterways( Time) Distance by Road( Time) ROPAX Terminal(Ferry wharf) Nerul(CIDCO) 24 km(1 hour) 34 Km(1.25 Hour) ROPAX Terminal(Ferry wharf) Kashid(MMB) 60 km(2hrs) 134 Km(3hrs 30 mins) ROPAX Terminal(Ferry wharf) Mora(MMB) 10 Km(30mins) 60 Km(1hr 30mins) Karanja Rewas(MMB) 3 Km(15mins) 70 Km(1hr 30mins)
Details of 12 routes for Water Taxi operations:Origin Destination Distance by Waterways( Time) Max @30kms Distance by Road( Time)Min Time Domestic Cruise Terminal (DCT) Nerul 19 km(40 mins) 34 km(1hr 15 min) DCT Belapur 20 km(45mins) 40 km(1 hr) DCT Vashi 23 km( 40 mins) 28 km(40 mins) DCT Airoli 34 km( 1hr 15mins) 34 km(1hr 15 min) DCT Rewas(Ready) 18 Km(1hr 15 min) 110 km(2hr 45 min) DCT Karanja(Ready) Km( 1hr 15mins) 70 kms(2 hrs) DCT Dharamtar(Ready) 40 kms(1hr30mins) 83 kms(2hr15 mins) Domestic Cruise Terminal (DCT) Kanhoji Angre Island 19 kms(40 mins) Belapur Thane 25 kms(20mins) 25kms(1 hr) Belapur Gateway of India 23 kms( 20 mins) 38 kms(1hr 20mins) Vashi Thane 12 kms( 15 mins) 20 kms(45 min) Vashi Gateway of India 25 kms(20mins) 28 kms(1hr15mins)
Opening up of 4 new routes of ROPAX Ferries and 12 routes of Water taxies is going to prove a big boon for daily commuters of Mumbai. It will result into a pollution free, peaceful and time saving journey as well as reduce the travel cost and carbon footprint significantly. It would also cater the requirements of increasing number of tourists and commuters at various stretches of Mumbai city.
Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated that operationalization of new waterways routes is a big step towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of harnessing waterways and integrating them with the economic development of the country. It will open up new opportunities and avenues to create an ecosystem and network of such ROPAX services and Water Taxi services at numerous other routes in all coastal states.
Photo: Just for Illustration
