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Ferry services stop and start partially at Gateway

It was deja vu for ferry owners at the Gateway of India, when authorities commanded them to shut business on Thursday. Only this time there was no forewarning, nor was any reason furnished for the move.

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It was deja vu for ferry owners at the Gateway of India, when authorities commanded them to shut business on Thursday. Only this time there was no forewarning, nor was any reason furnished for the move.

The ferry operators had last encountered this imposed interruption on business when US president Barack Obama had visited Mumbai and stayed at Taj Mahal Hotel in November. All businesses, particularly food joints, in Colaba had been asked to remain shut.

But this time, they haven't been given any reason, although Obama is set to visit the country on Republic Day. "We thought it is because of him again," said Zameer Ibrahim, member of the Gateway Jalvahatuk Sanstha Maryadit, who runs ferry services. But they later got to know that the shutdown was a security measure for Myanmar vice-president Sai Mauk Kham's five-day visit to India, when he will visit Mumbai on Friday and Saturday, and meet the governor for dinner.

"The only problem was the manner in which it was done. Without any notice or prior information, we were asked to shut down all operations at around 11 am on Thursday," Ibrahim added.

There are around 82 boats operating from the Gateway. Some take tourists on half-hour 'harbour' rides that do not halt anywhere, while others go to Elephanta Caves or beaches such as Mandwa and Alibaug, or ferry workers to JNPT.

Officials from Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) said the authorities did not give any reason or the number of days for which the services need to remain shut. This, they added, leads to further inconvenience as sometimes passengers make advance bookings.

"They just said that if we do not shut down, our licences will be cancelled," said Usman Panchi, secretary of Mumbai Harbor Malak Mahasangh. "It was only around 3 pm (Thursday) that they allowed us to start services again, but only to Mandwa and Elephanta. Harbor services will be shut for two more days," added Panchi.

Confirming the order to clear Gateway of passenger ferries including those for joyrides, Asheesh Sharma, MMB chief executive officer, said, "A foreign dignitary is visiting Mumbai due to which, as a security measure, ferries operating from Gateway will be suspended during Friday and Saturday."

The services will be back once the dignitary departs from Mumbai on Saturday, Sharma said.

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