MSRDC plans to set up repair yard at Charkop

Even though the Inland Passenger Water Transport Project (IPWTP) is awaiting clearance from CM Prithviraj Chavan for almost two years now, the MSRDC has come out with a plan to carry out techno-feasibility study to have a maintenance yard at Charkop.

According to a senior MSRDC official, plans to set up a dedicated maintenance yard was never part of the 2012 proposal of the IPWTP for the western coast in Mumbai. As per the earlier plan, one of the six terminals was to have the maintenance yard.

In all, there will be six jetties on the western coast at Nariman Point, Bandra, Juhu, Versova, Marve and Borivali.

"Having a dedicated maintenance and repair yard at Charkop will not only help the western coast water transport, but if a need arises, it can even service the catamarans and hovercrafts of the eastern coast," said a senior MSRDC official.

As per present plans, the eastern coast will have a repair yard at Nerul. The terminals proposed at the eastern coast are at Ferry Wharf, Mandwa and Nerul.

At the moment, the cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure headed by CM Chavan is yet to give sanction to the passenger water transport project, which promises to ease commuting woes of Mumbaikars for eight to nine months of the year.