Ro Pax service in Gujarat likely to be launched in April next year

Delayed by nearly four years, India’s first roll-on roll-off passenger ferry (Ro Pax) service is expected to be launched between Ghogha (Bhavnagar district) and Dahej (Bharuch) in Gujarat across the Gulf of Cambay in April next year.

The Centre has partly released funds for the service. As part of promoting coastal shipping in the country under the Sagarmala programme, the Union Ministry of Shipping has released ₹58.50 crore for dredging as the first instalment of grant-in-aid to port regulator Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), an official said here on Tuesday.

Project cost The total project cost is estimated to be ₹234 crore, of which 50 per cent will be funded by the Centre under the Sagarmala programme.

When completed, the project will reduce the motorable distance of 231 km between Ghogha and Dahej to a mere 31 km and travel time from seven hours to less than one hour as passengers will be able to cross 17 nautical miles in the Gulf of Cambay. It will also save fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emission and road congestion.

It is a first-of-its-kind of project in India as it will be executed in an area that boasts the world’s second highest tidal range. It will open up new avenues in coastal shipping and tourism and help in socio-economic development of the region. It will also help in using inland waterways through the Narmada river for shipping goods from industries located upstream.

Flagship project It is one of the flagship projects under Sagarmala which aims to increase share of waterways transportation in modal mix to 10 per cent from present level of 7 per cent by the year 2025.

Ro-Ro vessels require a minimum draft of five metres and regular dredging and maintenance work. This year’s post-monsoon dredging is expected to be completed by next March. A Surat-based operator will run the ferry service, probably by next April.

Port location The location of Dahej port in Bharuch district, on the east coast of Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat), is directly opposite to Ghogha in Bhavnagar district, on the west coast. In other words, the Gulf connects Ghogha and Dahej through waterways. Ghogha is a small port about 20 km from Bhavnagar while Dahej is well connected to Bharuch.

If the project proves to be a success, GMB could start hovercraft service in the 32-km-long stretch between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka, both important pilgrimage centres in Gujarat.

Narendra Modi, the then Chief Minister, had laid the foundation of the project in January 2012. It was scheduled to be completed in 15 months (by July 2013) but was delayed. Under the project, two terminals have been constructed at Ghogha and Dahej. GMB is expected to run two or three ferry vessels daily.

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