If everything goes as per plan, travellers will soon be able to use the Ro-Ro service at three jetties within Mumbai to reach Goa without getting stuck in traffic at highways.
A meeting of the infrastructure sub-committee chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will be held on November 23 and three major issues will figure on the agenda of the meeting — strengthening existing jetties [(Mandwa, Nerul and Bhaucha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf)], the Mumbai-Nagpur super communication highway and the Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
According to Praveen Darade, secretary to chief minister, the agenda of the meeting is yet to be finalised. However, the three main issues are likely to be discussed in the meeting.
According to Mr Darade, the Mumbai-Nagpur super communication highway has already received an in-principal approval of the state Cabinet. The same will be confirmed in the infrastructure sub-committee meeting.
The estimated cost of the proposed Greenfield highway is '30,000 crore. Another official from MSRDC said that if the option of widening the existing highway is considered, land acquisition would come up as a major issue and it will not be possible to complete the work. “Instead, it will be easy to construct a new way,” he said. According to the official, a bypass to the city will be an option while constructing the super communication way.
The new proposal of the water transport department will consist of strengthening the existing Bhaucha Dhakka, Mandwa and Nerul jetties to promote water transport. While Bhaucha Dhakka comes under Bombay Port Trust (BPT), Mandwa comes under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Board and Nerul Jetty comes under Cidco.
The proposal has suggested that these agencies develop or construct jetties in such a way that the Ro-Ro service can be started, the official said.
The state is also planning transporting of two and four wheelers through the Ro-Ro service from Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa, which will be easy and a shortcut to Goa highway.
At present the Konkan Railway avails the Ro-Ro service and heavy vehicles use it to reduce distance and save fuel.
If water transport begins between Bhaucha Dhakka and Mandwa, the load on the Mumbai-Goa Highway will ease as travellers are expected to use the Ro-Ro service to reach their destination without traffic congestion, the official said.
Other issues such as MTHL, Metro and coastal way will also be discussed in the meeting, the official said.
