News Brief
Mumbai–Konkan Ro-Ro Service To Begin 1 September, Travel Time To Reduce By Around Half
Ro-ro service (Representative Image)
Starting 1 September, passengers travelling from Mumbai to the Konkan coast will have a faster alternative as the Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry service takes off, State Ports Minister Nitesh Rane announced on Tuesday (26 August), Hindustan Times reported.
The service will link Mumbai with Jaigad in Ratnagiri and Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg, reducing travel time by nearly half.
Currently, the road journey from Mumbai to Ratnagiri takes about eight hours, while trains take six.
With the Ro-Ro service, commuters can reach Jaigad in 3-4 hours and Vijaydurg in 5-6 hours.
The service was initially scheduled to launch before Ganesh Chaturthi but was deferred due to rough weather.
Rane said the safety of passengers was prioritised, but conditions have now improved for operations.
He said that according to the meteorological department reports, weather conditions had started improving.
“The Ro-Ro service will start in Mumbai from Bhau Cha Dhakka at 6.30 am. After reaching Vijaydurg, it will start its return journey in two hours,” he said.
The minister noted that 147 permissions were secured from multiple authorities, including the Union Shipping Ministry, the Directorate General of Shipping, the Maharashtra Maritime Board, and the Mumbai Port Authority.
The vessels, he said, are fully prepared to carry both passengers and vehicles.
Rane explained that the first phase will cover Jaigad and Vijaydurg, while future expansions could include jetties at Shrivardhan and Mandwa.
He also highlighted that the vessel M2M Princess is the fastest passenger-cum-vehicle ferry in South Asia, capable of carrying two-wheelers, cars, and even buses, offering a safer and faster alternative to road travel.
