Mumbai : Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has earmarked the area of Kolshet in Thane to develop an intermodal transport hub which would offer connectivity to the public transport services.
The hub is being set up at Kolshet industrial area near Biodiversity Park as a part of the Inland water Transport (IWT) project at Thane creek. The need for the hub is to reduce dependence on the private automobiles and increase the use of public transport.
A Maharashtra Maritime Board official said, “Kolshet has been identified for the hub as it has several industries and offers better road connectivity.” Around eight jetties would be constructed at places like Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Saket (Thane), Kolshet (Thane), Godbundar (Thane), Diva, Bhiwandi and Kalyan as part of the water transport project. The Kolshet hub will integrate the jetties with taxi, auto stands, cycle racks and bus stops in order to offer better connectivity.
A proposal would be submitted by the MMB to the government for obtaining financial assistance for the IWT project in a way that 50 percent is funded either by Central or State government and remaining 50 percent be funded by respective municipal corporations for the infrastructure works in their area. The total project costs for bringing about an IWT at thane creek would be approximately Rs 350 crore.
In addition to this, the transport hub would also have ticket counters, Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) system rooms, communication rooms and information desk as a provision for service. Accessibility features like signage would also be provided for efficient movement within the hub.
A TMC official said, “The cost for bringing all the facilities under the transportation hub would be around Rs 100-120 crore.” The hub would be as similar to the one in CBD Belapur which also has provision for a helipad.
Six municipal corporations which include Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Ulhasnagar would form a consortium with Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to bring about an Inland Water Transport (IWT) at Thane creek.
Later, the six municipal corporations would enter into an agreement with the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).