MUMBAI-GOA SHIP SERVICES MAY RESUME SOON.
Services between Mumbai
and Jaigad to start in January, coming year.
This service will have halts at Dighi (Raigad) and Dabhol (Ratnagiri).
मुम्बई (भाऊचा धक्का) - दिघी - श्रीवर्धन - दाभोळ - जयगड - हरणे – रत्नागिरी - जैतापूर - विजयदुर्ग - मालवण - वेंगुर्ला - गोवा
MMB officials expect services between Mumbai and Jaigad to start
in January next year. This service will have halts at Dighi and Dabhol.
The Konkan region covering Goa is not only a prominent holiday
destination, but also home to many Mumbaikars, who travel back to their village
during holidays and Ganesh festival.
However, the huge rush mainly during the Ganesh holidays results
into shortage of travel options. Well, there is good news, as soon there will
be one more alternative to travel to Konkan region.
The Water Transport
Authority has decided to start ferry services by March 2017. According to the
water body, public water transport services towards to Konkan from Mumbai will
be available from Bhaucha Dhakka – Ferry Wharf to Deghi, Dabhol, Jaigad, Harne,
Shrivardhan, Ratnagiri, Jaitapur, VijayDurg, Malvan, Vengurle.
Mumbai to Konkan water ways facility service was applicable from
Maharashtra Maritime Boards for two times, but the proposal was not accepted.
However, the Water transport board in a meeting with marital
board agreed on starting ferry services this time around.
The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Maharashtra Maritime Board
(MMB) have joined hands to relaunch the service. A senior official from MMB
said, “The service is expected to start by end of March or April next year,
currently we are evaluating proposals from various shipping companies who have
shown interest in starting the service.”
According to the MMB official, service was close down in 1989
after boats operating on the route were requisitioned by Indian Navy for its
Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operations in Sri Lanka. Subsequently, boat
services could not be launched as Konkan Railway had started functioning on the
route, Mumbai-Goa Highway was widened and air fares became competitive, making
air journeys to Goa affordable for the middle and upper middle classes.”
However, due to an exceptional growth in the number of passengers,
there is a demand for Mumbai-Goa regular ship service, not only from tourists,
but also from regular passengers who want a safe, fast and economical option
for travel, the official added.
MMB officials expect services between Mumbai and Jaigad to start
in January next year. This service will have halts at Dighi and Dabhol.
Raigad Property Times