Gujarat: Sea-Based Ferry Service Between Hazira, Ghogha Will Shorten Distance By 300 Km; PM Modi To Launch On 8 Nov

In a big connectivity boost for Gujarat, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi will launch open the 'Ropax' ferry service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar and Hazira in Surat on 8 November, reports Times of India.

Once opened for public, the service would shorten the 370-kilometre road distance between Ghogha and Hazira to mere 60 kilometres via sea route. It will carry both passengers and heavy vehicles. Also, in a single journey, the Ropax ferry vehicle will be able to move 550 people, 30 trucks, seven smaller trucks and 100 two-wheelers.

This would significantly improve the connectivity between South Gujarat and Saurashtra regions, given the service would be an all-weather service which would remain operational even in times of high tides.

A terminal for the same has been built at Hazira and all the preparations have been completed. The services will begin for the public usage on 8 November itself, and the people will be able to book tickets from today (2 November) onwards.

In addition to this, several more of similar services will also be launched open by PM Modi on 8 November. These would include services in Kerala's Kochi and on Brahmaputra river in Assam. One such service will also be launched to connect North East with Kolkata. Also, a service connecting Assam's Karimganj to Bangladesh over the Barak river will be launched by PM Modi on the same day.