Water taxis and ROPAX (roll-on/roll-off passenger) ferries are slated to soon become a part of India's financial capital's public transportation system. It will promote eco-friendly waterways and reduce the traffic load of crowded Mumbai roads.

According to Shipping and Waterways Ministry, water taxis on 12 routes and ROPAX ferry services on four other are expected to be operational by December.

In a review meeting of the urban water transportation projects chaired by Shipping and Waterways Minister Manuskh Mandaviya, it was decided to use water transportation to connect Navi Mumbai to Mumbai and also to start ROPAX ferries at four locations Nerul, Karanja, Mora Rewas by next December.

Since the infrastructure work has been fully completed, water taxi operations will soon start in Mumbai at 12 locations, the ministry said. It would also cater to the requirements of increasing number of tourists and commuters at various stretches of the metropolis.

With the development of urban water transportation in Mumbai, the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will be reduced considerably, and the traffic congestion on Mumbai roads will reduce sharply.

Currently, the Mandwa ROPAX service is functional, and reduces the travel time from 3 hours to 45 minutes.

Currently, ROPAX service from Bhaucha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf) to Mandwa (Alibag) is operating successfully and reduces the road journey of 110 km to about 18 km by using waterways, thereby reducing travel time of daily commuters from about 3-4 hours to one hour.

After the success of this ferry service, similar services are planned at various routes in Mumbai.

Operationalisation of new waterways is a big step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of harnessing waterways and integrating them with the economic development of the country.

It will open up new opportunities and avenues to create an ecosystem and network of such ROPAX services and water taxi services at numerous other routes in all coastal states, Mandaviya said.