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MMB to start online ticketing for passenger ferries soon

This will also ensure safety by preventing overloading of boats by private operators and evasion of taxes. Moreover, these boats can be GPS enabled and geo-tagged with alerts and warnings being issued to passengers in case of storms and choppy seas.

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Rates for transporting passengers and vehicles, which were frozen for years, have also been upwardly revised
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Those who want to visit the Elephanta Caves or Mandwa from the Gateway of India may not have to stand in serpentine queues for buying passenger boat tickets. They will soon be able to book their seats online. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) is working on developing a software solution for online ticketing for passenger ferries.

This will also ensure safety by preventing overloading of boats by private operators and evasion of taxes. Moreover, these boats can be GPS enabled and geo-tagged with alerts and warnings being issued to passengers in case of storms and choppy seas. Travellers will also be able to get in touch with the MMB in case of emergencies.

"People will be able to book their tickets online. We will also get our taxes immediately... the move will also introduce checks and balances. Overcrowding in boats will be prevented," said Atul Patne, CEO, MMB, adding that the revenue of the agency would also rise. A certain quantum of seats on water transport boats may be blocked for online booking on a common platform with the rest being allowed to be sold on site.

Maharashtra has 47 water transport routes operated by the MMB and local bodies like zilla parishads. Last year, around 1.80 crore commuters used passenger water transport services. Gateway to Mandwa, Gateway to Elephanta and New Ferry Wharf to Mora are among the heavy routes.

"In emergencies, we will be able to monitor these operations. These boats will be GPS enabled and geo-tagged. In case of storms, we can immediately inform people as we will have their phone numbers. This will also be user-friendly as cancellation of services can be informed via SMS. Passengers can also tell us in case they detect something suspicious or if the boat is overcrowded," explained Patne.

The operators will have to use MMB's software for all online and offline bookings, thus enabling better monitoring and transparency. The MMB levies a tax of 10% of the ticket value, though it is looking at increasing it for high-speed boats and yachts.

At the moment, MMB's port inspectors issue tickets to operators with MMB's stamps. These tickets are sold to passengers.

The MMB has already floated expressions of interest (EOI) for developing software solutions for online passenger ticketing in passenger boat services. The software will keep track of the tickets issued, number of boats in use and their availability, track available boats, track entry and exit times of passengers using the boats and the actual usage of boats and issue booking confirmations through SMS and email.

The rates for transporting passengers and vehicles, which were frozen for years, have also been revised. "This rate revision will help the private operators create a viable model. This will turn out to be tourism-friendly," added Patne.

Some water transport routes

Versova-Madh
Manori- Marve
Gorai-Borivli
Arnala jetty-Arnala Fort
Dighi-Agardanda
Gateway of India-Gharapuri
Gateway of India-Mandwa
Belapur-Elephanta
Rajpuri-Janjira
Jaitapur-Devache Gothane
Morbe-Satpati
New Ferry Wharf-Rewas
Dighi-Janjira Fort
Karanja-Rewas
New Ferry Wharf-Gharapuri

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