Speedboat ticket for Uran-Mumbai hiked by ₹15

While the service is functional throughout the year, fares are usually hiked every monsoon and continue till August 31

The water transport service provided by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) from Mora port in Uran to Mumbai’s Bhau Cha Dhakka has become costlier. Last month, the fare for the regular boat service had been increased from Rs50 to Rs60. Now, the fare for the speed boat has been increased from Rs55 to Rs70. Increase in fuel prices is being cited as the reason being cited for the hike.

Mora jetty at Uran. Around 30,000 people travel between Uran and Mumbai daily. (Bachchan Kumar/HT)

What’s more, fare is expected to be hiked further by ₹10 starting from June 1. While the service is functional throughout the year, fares are usually hiked every monsoon, and continue till August 31.

“The Mora to Bhauha Dhakka route that connects Uran and Mumbai is of great help to passengers. We can travel between the two cities in a shorter time, without any traffic snarls or pollution, and at a much cheaper cost. Around 30,000 people travel between Uran and Mumbai daily. However, this hike even before the onset of monsoon is wrong. We are being burdened with additional cost of travelling,” said Girish Bapat, a regular commuter.

Virendra Koli, a speed board operator, said, “The cost of diesel has risen considerably and hence, we were faced with the additional cost of operating the speed boat. We have now increased the fare with permission from MMB. The fare hike of regular boats last month was also applied after the requisite permission.”

MMB official Prabhakar Pawar confirmed this. “Official permission has been given to the boat operators to hike the fare,” Pawar said.