A techno-economic feasibility study for water taxis in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) was presented to the state government on Monday with a plan of operating 10 routes totalling 252 kilometers with an estimated capital cost of Rs 2,500 crore.
During the meeting, a discussion was also held on starting additional water taxi routes on Mumbai’s Western seafront.
Among the 10 routes proposed in the report include, Narangi – Kharwadeswari near Virar (1 km length), Vasai – Mira Bhayandar– Fountain Junction –Gaimukh– Nagale (16 km), Kalher–Kolshet– Mulund–Aeroli– Vashi– DCT – Gateway (50 km ), Gaimukh-Kolshet– Kalher– Mumbra– Kalyan (31 km), New airport-Belapur-Vashi (14 km), Vasai– Marve– Nariman Point (61 km), Borivali– Gorai– Essel world- Marve- Manori (6 km), Rewas- Karanja- Gateway (19 km), Belapur-Gateway-Mandwa (38 km) and Gateway-Elephanta-Nhava (17 km).
The report was drafted by the Kochi Water Metro and presented to state Ports Minister Nitesh Rane. According to an official present at the meeting, the government has decided to increase the number of routes before going ahead with the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
“The study does not include key Mumbai routes such as Worli, Juhu and Varsova. It will be added and the DPR of this project will be prepared,” the officer said.
Out of these routes, five are projected to be financially viable after 2029 and two would require Viability Gap Funding (VGF) by the government to turn viable.
While Rs 2,500 crore was estimated as the capital cost, for the upgrade of existing water transport terminals, the estimated cost is Rs 5 crore per terminal.
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As per the report, by 2031, the realistic number of trips on these routes will 2.44 lakh while in 2041, it will be 3.42 lakh.
Among the civil infrastructure requirements, the study report has listed terminals or jetties with passenger amenities, floating pontoons and gangways, boatyards for vessel maintenance and repairs, night parking and fueling jetties, development of access roads and parking facilities and non-motorised transport (NMT).