25 August,2015 08:25 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB) will be constructing the water terminal at Mandva; CIDCO will be constructing a jetty in Nerul, Navi Mumbai
If all goes according to plan, the inland water transport project on the east coast of Mumbai, connecting Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) with Mandva in Raigad district and Nerul, will soon see the light of day.
The ferry service between Alibag and Gateway of India. File pic for representation
The Mumbai Maritime Board (MMB), which will be constructing the water terminal at Mandva, has sent the proposal of construction of the same to the state cabinet subcommittee of infrastructure.
The MbPT, which will be constructing a jetty at Ferry Wharf, has also received clearance for the construction of a jetty from its board. CIDCO, which will be constructing the jetty at Nerul, is preparing the proposal for construction of a jetty.
MMB has been made the nodal agency for implementing the water transport project on the east and west coasts of Mumbai. According to officials, "The MMB has prepared a proposal about the construction of a terminal at Mandva and the same has been submitted to the state government cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure for final approval."
The water transport project along the east coast of Mumbai was earlier with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), but a few months back, the project was handed over to the Mumbai Maritime Board, by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
As per the plans, the job of developing a terminal for the water transport project was given to individual agencies. The job of developing the terminal at Nerul has been assigned to CIDCO and MbPT will develop the terminal at Ferry Wharf.
"While the MMB has submitted its proposal last week, CIDCO has yet not submitted it. The MbPT board has already given its clearance for the construction of a terminal at Ferry Wharf. Once the cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure gives the clearance, the implementation of the project can be started," said a state government official.
After the construction of the ferry terminals, the private contractors will be invited through a biding process to look after the operation and maintenance of the services that would start. It will be the job of the contractor to get the catamarans and Ro-Ro services which will be used to ferry passengers.
Once completed, the water transport project on East coast of Mumbai will connect Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) to Belapur, Nerul, Vashi and Mandva, thus reducing the pressure of crowd on the Harbour line trains.
