Mumbai Water Taxis Services To Alibaug & Malvan Soon; Check Routes & Other Details

Mumbai: In a major move to ease road congestion in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government plans to introduce water taxi services across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Ports Minister Nitesh Rane confirmed on Tuesday that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared, with eight to nine routes identified for this innovative transport system.

The Ports Minister, Nitesh Rane, highlighted the success of the Mumbai Metro and said, ''We have seen the success of the Mumbai Metro. On those lines, we will be starting water taxis in the MMR. We have already identified eight to nine routes, according to PTI report.

The water taxi services will feature 30-seater electric vessels operating from key points like the Gateway of India to popular destinations such as Alibaug and Elephanta Island.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board will manage the operations, ensuring affordability and sustainability. To support this, 15 electric vessels are being procured from Candela Cruise, a Swedish company, with the first two expected to arrive in August, as per report.

Rane emphasised that these vessels will not only help in decongesting the roads but also reduce pollution in the region. Existing wooden boats will continue to operate, giving commuters the freedom to choose their preferred mode of water transport, much like road-based aggregator services.

Additionally, the government plans to launch a Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service from Mazgaon in Mumbai to Malvan in Sindhudurg district. This service, which will cut travel time to approximately four-and-a-half hours, is expected to begin during the Ganpati festival later this year. Jetties for this route are currently under construction in Ratnagiri, Vijaydurg, and Malvan.