Indian Express 28.04.2010
MMRDA itching to get started on Eastern Waterways project
Swapnil Rawal Tags : MMRDA Eastern Waterways project, mumbai Posted: Wednesday, Apr 28, 2010 at 2328 hrs
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will invite tenders soon for the Eastern Waterways project, waiting only for the cabinet to communicate officially that it is in charge of the project, formerly with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation that has failed to attract private parties.The project has a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore. The modalities were discussed at a “war room” meeting on Monday and the MMRDA expects cabinet approval in a week, a Mantralaya official said.
The MMRDA has proposed two water transport services on the eastern waterfront - the first between Ferry Wharf and Vashi, Neral and Belapur and the second one a roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ferry service to carry both people and vehicles between Ferry Wharf and Mandva Jetty near Alibaug.
The passenger service would supplement the saturated suburban railway system on the eastern side of the city. The government has a long-drawn plan to start similar services on the western waterfront, too, but it has not moved for many years.
The MMRDA is ready with the paperwork and will soon invite private operators to start services. “All inspections have been done at Vashi and Neral while a survey will start now at Belapur. The allocations will be used on infrastructure: building terminals, dredging and building food stalls,” another senior official said.
According to the official, the MMRDA is likely to start the passenger ferry service first as the Mandva jetty has to be refurbished entirely. “This is not a major issue but it will take more time,” the official added.
