The Hindu Business Line : Ferry project in Mumbai gets impetus

THE long-awaited Inland Passenger Water Transport (IPWT) project for Mumbai has got a new impetus, with the project consultancy for the development of the transport system on the eastern coast of the city nearing finalisation.

According to sources in Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nodal agency for the project, the final approval for the consultancy will be soon given to Dalal Mott MacDonald (DMM) Consultants, subject to clearance by the MSRDC board.

DMM is a multi-disciplinary management and engineering consultancy based in India, and part of the Mott MacDonald Group, UK. In an effort to mitigate the ever-growing problems of mass transportation in Mumbai city, the State Government has been considering sea transport as a viable means for intra-city travel for the last six years.

Transportation experts have been demanding sea transport systems since the 1960s. In the 1990s, an attempt was made to run a hovercraft service between Gateway of India and Navi Mumbai, which is on the mainland, but it was shut down due to poor commuter response.

However, the Government is still looking for viable sea transport options. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, addressing the State Legislature last Friday said, "Our present mass transport systems have been completely utilised. Inland water transport is one option we are avidly exploring."

The IPWT project requires seed capital of about Rs 660 crore. On the western coast of the city, jetties would have to be constructed at Nariman Point, Bandra, Juhu, Versova, Marve, Charkop and Borivali. Private parties would implement the project on BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) basis. On the eastern coast of the city and on the mainland, jetties would be developed at Colaba, Ferry Wharf, Uran, JNPT Port, Belapur, Nerul and Vashi.

Facilities such as terminal buildings, cafeterias, communication systems, berthing piers, embarking and disembarking facilities for different water levels at different stages of tides, and other infrastructure, would have to be created for passengers as part of the project.

When the project is implemented it is expected to ferry about one-lakh passengers daily. Catamaran and hovercrafts would be used for transport.

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