Mumbai, February 7: Much to the happiness of Mumbaikars, a roll-on-roll-off ship, popularly termed as 'RoRo' service, will soon be rolled out by April-end or May to facilitate easy travel. People who wish to travel from Mumbai to Alibaug but worry about the three-hour long drive, can now breathe a sigh of relief as they can now take their cars to Alibaug without any hassle. Reports inform that Ro-Ro, which can accommodate cars and private buses, will have space for nearly 10 buses, about 40 cars and 250 passengers. Moreover, it is believed to reduce the journey from Mumbai to Alibaug to an hour. The service is seen as a boon to those travelling to Mandwa, Alibaug and beaches like Murud-Janjira, Velas, Shreewardhan.  UberBoat Services Launched in Mumbai From Gateway of India to Elephanta, Alibaug: How to Book the Ride. 

Reaching Alibaug from Mumbai takes up to three hours while it takes over four hours to reach the Dighi port in Raigad. The Ro-Ro service will, however, reduce the distances to an hour and two hours respectively. According to a report by TOI, the RoRo service is likely to be launched between the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and Mandwa/Dighi in the coming months. The report further adds saying that the RoRo service will also be extended to Nerul in Navi Mumbai.  Mumbai to Elephanta Caves Only in 15 Minutes After Proposed Ropeway Gets Completed in 2022. 

MbPT chairman Sanjay Bhatia was quoted in the report saying that they will float tenders in a day or two. He said that the service will be operated between the newly built Ro-Ro terminal at MbPT and Mandwa/Dighi. “Eventually, services will be extended to Nerul and the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport between Panvel and Belapur as and when the jetties get ready,” Bhatia was quoted by TOI.

According to sources, the rates would be finalised only after the tendering process. However, the fares expected to be around Rs 300-400 for a car, Rs 700-800 for a bus and Rs 200-300 for an individual passenger. The TOI report further informs that the MbPT, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and City and Industrial Development Corporation will jointly procure a Rs 40 crore Ro-Ro ship by shelling out Rs 10 crore each.

Bhatia added that for 2019-20, around 300 arrivals have been confirmed by domestic and international cruise liners. “Mostly, the tender will be floated on Thursday. The tendering process should be done by the first week of April. By end of April or early May, the ship should run services,” said Bhatia.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 07, 2019 10:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).