A proposal has been sent to Ministry of Shipping to execute project between Nariman Point and Gorai
After expressing apprehensions over the feasibility of plans for water transport between Nariman Point and Borivali in Gorai, the state government through the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has sent a proposal to the Central government to go ahead and execute the project on their own.
Atul Patne, Chief Executive Officer, MMB, told DNA, "We have sent the proposal to the Ministry of Shipping for executing the water transport project after we were asked by the Centre."
The MMB had, earlier this year, floated bids seeking expression of interest (EOI) from companies for the water passenger transport service between Nariman Point and Gorai in Borivli. However, MMB later said that the project may not be technically and financially feasible.
Speaking on the challenges, a senior MMB official, said, "If we talk of water transport connectivity, we will need a number of jetties between Nariman Point and Borivli to make the project financially viable and allow for more citizens to have access to the facility."
The official added, "But having jetties at every location is not possible due to the cost factors involved and need for surplus infrastructure."
Last month, the state government had come under flak after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had slammed the Maharashtra government's bureaucracy for delaying the water transport project. Gadkari had told DNA on August 8, "I was informed about these apprehensions. If the state government does not find the project feasible, we will develop a feasible model for them.
Estimated at a cost Rs 2,000, the water transport project between Nariman Point and Gorai is also the cheapest mass transportation project when compared with other projects that connect Island city with western suburbs.
AT A GLANCE
- Water transport services have been proposed between several locations like Nariman Point and Gorai in Borivli, Thane and Navi Mumbai since the late 1990s
- However, all these projects have been only on paper from past several years or at execution stage
- This was one of the reasons Gadkari had publicly criticised the state government for delaying it and said the Centre could help them
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