The already-delayed plans for water transport between Nariman Point and Borivli may have hit another block over doubts about its viability and rate of return.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) board, which met under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, gave its nod for a feasibility study for the west coast water transport project. It is proposed to connect South Mumbai to the western suburbs and areas further north by sea.
Senior state government officials said factors like the rough seas on the western seaboard which made it difficult for vessels to operate for almost six months in a year, the proposed coastal road between South Mumbai and Kandivali, and the likely low rate of return had led to second thoughts. “This will reduce the facility to one used only for pleasure. There is little point in investing public money for this,” added the official.
Earlier, the MMB had floated expressions of interest (EoI) for developing passenger ferry services between NCPA at Nariman Point and Borivli with plans for stoppages at locations like Bandra, Versova, Marve, Juhu.
“It was decided that a feasibility study for the Nariman Point- Borivli water transport route on the west coast be conducted and the project be executed if feasible,” a senior MMB official told DNA.
“The sealink has been constructed from Worli to Bandra and there are plans to extend it further to Versova. We may have to operate a point-to-point service from Nariman Point to Borivali,” he said, adding that hence, they would examine the feasibility. The study will take around three months.
The official said one could cover the distance between Gateway of India and Borivli in around 50 minutes. “The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority granted consents in 2011. The permission of the heritage committee is necessary... but we’ll need a nod from the state government too,” he added.
Analysis
Conceived almost a decade ago, the project has been overtaken by subsequent infrastructure addition plans. The water transport sector in Mumbai and Maharashtra remains under-utilised, and these second thoughts on the west coast project will mean that things may remain so for years to come.
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