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Travelers heading to Konkan or Goa in private vehicles will soon get some relief from the 180-minute harrowing journey it takes to reach Alibaug, reports Zeeshan Shaikh.

Travelers heading to Konkan or Goa in private vehicles will soon get some relief from the 180-minute harrowing journey it takes to reach Alibaug.

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The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), in an attempt to use Mumbai’s coastline, is planning a Roll On Roll Off ferry service, which will help people in taking their vehicles from Ferry Wharf to Mandva through a boat, thus reducing time to reach Mumbai-Goa Highway.

Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or Ro-Ro) ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks and trailers that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.

This project, expected to be complete by mid-July next year, will save time for those heading to Konkan or Goa. Currently, people using private vehicles take a longer route from Chembur to Pen to Wadkhal Naka to head towards Konkan or Goa.

This journey takes about three hours in a highly congested stretch. “The Ro-Ro ferry will drop passengers and their cars at Mandva in less than an hour,” said Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad. MMRDA will be building a jetty at Ferry Wharf and use the RCF jetty at Mandva for the purpose.

“The Mumbai Port Trust has given us assurance that it will allow us to construct the jetty at Ferry Wharf,” Gaikwad said.

MMRDA will also undertake the development of infrastructure on both the sides to ensure that the area can take the load of the vehicles. MMRDA has already identified spots, which will require dredging for the efficient functioning of the ferry service.

“We will also provide licenses to operators who can run their service on this stretch,” Gaikwad said.