Mumbai looking at waterways transportation to ease traffic snarls

There are plans to introduce Roll-on/Roll-off service between Alibaug and Navi Mumbai

Known for its rich maritime tradition, Mumbai is all set to exploit waterways to ease traffic snarls. It is planning to introduce Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) service through sea route via Ferry Wharf Mumbai between Mandwa (Alibaug) and Nerul (Navi Mumbai).

The proposed project will be first of its kind in India as it has plans to deploy fast speed vessels having carrying capacity of 40 cars and 200 passengers at a time. The work on the Rs 210-crore project, excluding cost of vessels, is likely to start by December this year and would be completed in 18 months.

In RoRo service, car passengers can board a vessel with their vehicles and take the sea route to Mandwa (Alibaug) and Nerul (Navi Mumbai) from Ferry Wharf Mumbai. Executed by three agencies, the Rs 210-crore project will not only save the travel time considerably but also reduce congestion on roads, environmental pollution, accidents etc. It would further improve productivity by saving both time and additional fuel expenses.

Speaking to Business Standard, a senior official in the Maharashtra Maritime Board said the travel time would be reduced considerably. "The distance from Mumbai to Alibaug is around 100 km and it takes three hours for motorists to cover this distance. By deploying ferry service the travel time will be reduced to 20 minutes between these two locations. The distance between Ferry Wharf Mumbai to Mandwa near Alibaug is 9 Nautical miles. So, the travel time will be reduced considerably," he said.

"Similarly, motorists take one hour to cover 25 km distance between Mumbai to Nerul(Mumbai). It will take 45 minutes by the ferry service. The motorist can save time and fuel," he added. The distance between Ferry Wharf to Nerul is 22 Nautical miles. According to the sources, the t hree agencies namely Maharastra Maritime Board, Ministry of Shipping and the City and Industrial Corporation(CIDCO) of Maharastra will execute the project. The three agencies will develop infrastructure required for the service at their respective areas viz.Ferry Wharf Mumbai, Mandwa Alibag & Nerul Navi Mumbai at their own cost.

The estimated project cost are Ferry Wharf - Rs 36 crore, Mandwa (Alibaug)- Rs 64 crore and Nerul (Navi Mumbai)- Rs 110 crore. According to sources, the tenders for construction are likely to be issued by September end and work may be awarded by December.

The project will be completed in 18 months time. Once the infrastructure is complete the three agencies may float SPV and invite bids for commencement of RoRo service. Also there will be revenue sharing between the three agencies and the ferry service provider.Commenting upon uniqueness of the project, he added, "The vessels deployed for the service will run at high speed and much bigger than the routes where this kind of service exits."

He mentioned that currently similar kind of service were operational in Goa and Maharastra but the vessels pressed in the service were much smaller in size as they are having carrying capacity of 4-5 cars and around 10-15 passengers. Moreover, there speed are also very low.Besides these 3 locations the state maritime board are also in the process of identifying other locations in the creeks north of Mumbai to start such Ro-Ro services.