Mumbai: Roro boat service to operate between Vasai, Bhayander

The roro during a trial run in Vasai on Saturday. Pic/Hanif Patel

Those commuting by road between Vasai and Bhayander can expect some relief, with the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) set to kick off a ‘roro' boat service between the two towns from February 20.

The Roll On Roll Off boats, colloquially called roros, are so named because they designed to carry vehicles that can easily get on and off, allowing people to travel by sea with their two- or four-wheelers. The latest service is part of the Central government's ambitious Sagar Mala project, aimed at unlocking the potential of waterways and coastlines to minimise infrastructural investments.

With the new roro expected to cover the distance between Vasai and Bhayander to around 15 minutes, residents are already looking forward to the service. Currently, the same distance takes around an hour and a half to navigate, longer during office rush hours.

"It will be a huge relief to commuters travelling by road, as the road conditions are pathetic and people have to face dense traffic snarls due to the ongoing work on the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway. I'm very happy with this new initiative, as people will now travel using environment friendly water transport," said Avinash Kuse, a resident of Vasai.

The roro is capable of ferrying up to 100 passengers, 40 cars and 50 two-wheelers in a single trip. "The fishing community, too, can avail this service, as there are provisions to charge commuters based on the cargo they are carrying," said Fazle Haque Qureshi, another Vasai resident. An MMB officer said that the service will initially be operated on an experimental basis, one boat being run every day.

"After monitoring all aspects like safe and easy navigation, easy boarding and disembarkation of passengers and vehicles and proper sailing routes, the service will be officially inaugurated. It will save time and fuel, and provide a comfortable alternative to those battling daily traffic jams at present," said the officer.

Ticket charges

Motorcycle (with rider): Rs 60
Empty autorickshaw (with driver): Rs 100
Four-wheeler (with driver): Rs 180
Fish, birds, fruits etc (per basket), and cows, dogs, goats, sheeps etc: Rs 40
Travelling adult above 12 years of age: Rs 30
Passengers between 3 to 12 years: Rs 15