Even before being launched, the proposed Mumbai-Goa cruise liner service has been left high and dry because no private companies are interested in operating the route.
Even before being launched, the proposed Mumbai-Goa cruise liner service has been left high and dry because no private companies are interested in operating the route.
"Mumbai-Goa passenger cruise plan is less likely to happen as there hasn't been good response from the private operators," said Ravi Parmar, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT).
In mid-2013, MbPT had asked Marmugao Port Trust to float bids inviting industry players to ferry people between the two popular tourist destinations of Mumbai and Goa.
"There was no good response. So nothing went ahead as planned by us," added Parmar.
So MbPT is thinking of scouting for international players for the same route. But MbPT has set no time-frame to come up with an 'Expression of Interest' for the cruise liner service.
The rationale behind the proposal was that the port authorities concerned hoped to capitalise on the massive tourist influx from Mumbai to Goa during tourism season, which currently available modes of transport are unable to accommodate fully. In fact, last year the Konkan Railway had operated a 'double decker premium' special train during the peak season only to serve the additional crowds.
The sea journey was supposed to start from Ferry Wharf in Mumbai to Marmugao in Goa with likely stoppages at Ratnagiri and Malvan in the Konkan. As per the fine print of the proposal's tender, the ticket prices were to be at par with those of the railways, so as to make the sea transport competitive in the market. The service was to be launched despite the fact of its non-availability during the monsoon.
The last such service between Mumbai and Goa sailed way back in 1991, when there were two ships, namely, Konkan Shakti and Konkan Sevak. But these vessels were sent to Sri Lanka for military service and thereafter the services never resumed. A one-way voyage used to take around 24 hours.
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