Rs. 111-crore terminal for Nerul-south Mumbai boat service by May.

The Rs. 111-crore Nerul passenger water terminal, funded by Cidco, will be ready around May, and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) will operate speed boats and catamarans to Ferry Wharf, Gateway of India and Elephanta.

Cidco MD Lokesh Chandra told TOI, "The terminal, behind DPS and NRI colony, should be ready in May. MMB is selecting an operator. Sailing time will be 30-35 minutes. There will be catamarans with capacity of 100-150 passengers and smaller boats. The vessels will be AC and non-AC.'' The catamarans will be AC.

The project has two phases. Phase II will have a RoRo service and a direct trip to Mandwa. A survey will be undertaken to study phase II. There's no need for dredging in the first phase, as the water depth of 3-4 metres is available, while the requirement is a two-metre depth for operating passenger boats in the first phase. The second phase will require dredging for bigger vessels.

The waterway transportation project, for which tenders were to be floated in 2016, took time because of green clearance over CRZ and a small mangrove patch. The project had envisaged six months for clearances, but it took nearly 17 months. The project was scheduled to be flagged off in May 2019. Boat travel will save time compared to road travel and reduce air pollution besides offering a scenic coastal view.

The project is under revenue sharing model with Cidco, a major stakeholder, MMB and an operator the maritime board will select. Around 25 years back, a hovercraft service was available from Vashi and Belapur to SoBo.

TOI