Water transport plans to begin in ’11
If the state government is to be believed, then the Rs 1,200-crore Inland Water Transport Project (IPWT) will take off in the next six months. The project is aimed at decongesting the city’s transport network by exploiting waterways between the two points with four terminals in between at Bandra, Juhu, Versova and Marve on the estern front and between Ferry Wharf at Mazgaon and Nerul in Navi Mumbai on the eastern coast.
“Right now the western front is being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the first bidding process is over. We will have another bid and then will give the commercial offer. If all goes well then this will take off in six months,” said State Ports Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
He was answering a question raised by Shiv Sena Member of Legislative Council Vinod Tawde who questioned the government on the long pending project.
“How long is this project going to take? We urgently need water transport in place to solve Mumbai’s transportation woes,” Tawde said.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is also looking to develop similar projects on the eastern coast. “ We have asked the MMRDA to calculate project costs and work out funding options for the same,” Vikhe-Patil added. He said both the agencies have been asked to go ahead and plan for passenger terminals and water landings.