News: Ride the waves to work

(DNA 10/01/2006) Mumbai - It sounds too good to be true. Instead of choking and sweating your way to office in a crowded Churchgate-bound local, you will be travelling across the placid waters of Arabian Sea—the gentle sea breeze lifting your spirits before the start of a hectic day.

The Union Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has finally granted clearance to the Maharashtra government to operate a ferry service from Borivali to Nariman Point. The clearance, coming two years after the project was launched, has been granted to four of the six locations selected for erecting jetties. They are: Bandra, Juhu, Versova and Borivali. The ministry has asked for detailed geo-technical studies like sub-soil analysis to be carried out at the two remaining sites of Marve and Nariman Point.

A senior official of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the implementing authority, said: “The studies at these two places will not take much time. Hopefully, we will get the clearance by the year-end and begin the services soon.”

The project—expected to become functional in 2006—had got stuck in the mesh of central environment and coastal regulation rules. Interestingly, before getting the final environmental clearance, MSRDC had given the rights to run the ferry service to a consortium led by M/s Satyagiri Shipping Company ltd. The consortium partners— IDFC, Dena Bank, Videocon International, Hiranandani Group, KSMC Financial Services Ltd, ABS Hovercraft Ltd, UK and Gammon India Ltd—had won the rights by quoting the highest lease rent of Rs1000 crore.

Dinesh Joshi, director of Satyagiri Shipping, said: “It is a positive step. However, Nariman Point is the master passenger terminal. Unless that starts, it will not be possible for us to start services in bits and pieces. Hopefully, we would get this environmental clearance in a few months’ time and start constructing jetties.”

MSRDC has already given Satyagiri the conditional letter of intent. Once the remaining two environmental clearances are received, MSRDC and Satyagiri will formally sign the contractual agreement.

The state is also planning to start a similar water transport system along the east coast. Starting from the Gateway, the water transport will travel to Ferry Wharf and to Nerul via Uran and JNPT.

Bonne Voyage

Ferry service will run from Nariman Point to Borivali via Bandra, Juhu, Versova and Marve

Environmental clearance given for jetties at Bandra, Juhu, Versova and Borivali

MSRDC has already given conditional letter of intent to a consortium led by M/s Satyagiri Shipping Company Ltd, which won the bid in 2004

It is expected to take 1 hour to travel from Borivali to Nariman Point by the sea route

Catamarans and hovercraft will be used.

Jetties to have basic facilities and amenities like waiting halls and cafes.