The inland water transport project on the east coast of Mumbai, connecting Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) with Mandwa in Raigad district and Nerul, will soon be started.
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 sub-committee 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 the 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.
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.
After the construction of the ferry terminals, the private contractors will be invited through a bidding 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 that will be used to ferry passengers.
Once completed, the water transport project on the East coast of Mumbai will connect Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) to Belapur, Nerul, Vashi and Mandva, thus reducing the pressure of the crowd on the Harbour line trains.
