The long-awaited water taxi service from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai is finally going to be inaugurated on February 17, in the presence of Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal, reports from Times of India stated.
As per the report, two operators out of four will initially start the services and the tentative tariff will be Rs 800 and Rs 550 for DCT-Belapur and DCT-JNPT routes, respectively. A monthly pass to Belapur would cost around Rs 12,000.
The service, which was was first planned three decades ago, will considerably reduce commute time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
According to reports from The Indian Express, initially, the water taxis will operate on three routes-
Domestic Cruise Terminal at Ferry Wharf, Mazgaon and the terminals at Belapur
Belapur and Elephanta Caves
Belapur and JNPT
An official told IE that the routes will be extended in the future. Other routes include International Cruise Terminal to Elephanta, Domestic Cruise Terminal to Rewas, Karanjade, Dharamtar, Domestic Cruise Terminal to Belapur, Nerul, Vashi and Airoli and DCT to Khanderi islands and JNPT.