Assam CM launches RoRo service

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Thursday launched the Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo) service which will ferry people and goods vehicles to provide much needed connectivity to Majuli river island.

Sonowal flagged off a new water vessel MV Bhupen Hazarika connecting Kamalabari with Neamati Ghat.

The RoRo service was launched in collaboration between Inland Waterways Authority of India and Assam government.

The RoRo service will reduce the travel distance for trucks from Neamati to Majuli island via Tezpur Road Bridge.

Earlier the trucks used to take a circuitous road route of 421 km from Neamati to Majuli island via Tezpur Road bridge. Now it would be only 12.7 km with the use of the river route, officials said.

The vessel which is 46.50 meter long and 13.30 meter wide has a carrying capacity of eight trucks and 100 passengers. The vessel can sail at the speed of 22 km per house, they said.

Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma was present at the function to launch the service.