Passenger Water Transport System along West Coast of Mumbai

Environmental Clearance for Development of Passenger Water Transport on the West Coast of Mumbai

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Project Back Ground

Government of Maharastra (GoM) has been very keen to develop a passenger water transport system on the west coast of Mumbai. Accordingly, this project envisages construction of Passenger water transport terminals at designated locations along western water front of Mumbai city. The objective of the project is to relieve the existing congested transport system in Mumbai by providing an alternate mode of energy efficient and environment friendly transport system. The availability of water front around Mumbai offers an opportunity to encourage water transport as a viable alternate mode of transport.

The Government of Maharastra (GoM) has appointed Maharastra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) as nodal agency to implement the Passenger Water Transport (PWT) project along west coast on BOOT basis. Earlier Maharastra Maritime Board (MMB) has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing this project and had pre qualified 5 bidders to implement the project on BOOT format. The following terminals were envisaged for the development;

1.	Borivali
2.	Marve
3.	Versova
4.	Juhu
5.	Bandra and
6.	Nariman Point

Later on in February 2002 the state government appointed MSRDC as the nodal agency. MSRDC then felt the need to develop the project to certain stage where the project can be offered for a private investor to carry forward the work. Accordingly MSRDC initiated to carry out a feasibility study through M/s Mott Mac Donald Private Limited.

PAST STUDIES

Mumbai has, in the past, seen some attempts at setting up facilities for passenger water transport system. These were no successful owing to many reasons. The consultants engaged for this study have examined the same from the following reports;

Report on “Development of waterways around Bombay Harbour for Commuter Traffic, 1983, prepared by Expert Group for Home (Transport) Department, Government of Maharastra.

Report on “Techno Economic Feasibility for passenger water transport service”, prepared by Kirloskar Consultants Limited for CIDCO, 1992

Report on “Water Transport System between South Bombay and New Bombay” , 1995 prepared by CES (I) Ltd, New Delhi for CIDCO

Report on “Frame work for commuter ferry system on Mumbai’s western water front”, 2000 prepared by Kachnar Consultants (P) Ltd for MMB

Report on “Construction of landing points for Hovercrafts and Piers for Catamaran services on West Coast of Mumbai” April 1995

Besides above, rich overseas experience of the consultants had led to three phase development plan of the present passenger water transport system.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE PROJECT

Several studies on natural environment (viz. topography, climatic, hydrological, geo technical studies), existing land use and traffic were carried out to assess the requirement at the terminals (parking and passenger amenities) and its associate facilities (like parking and circulation etc). Detailed traffic studies have been carried out for forecasting the same.

Eventually, a plan was prepared for three phases depending on the public response to this mode of transport. In Phase I the terminals at Nariman Point, Versova and Borivali were to be developed. The Phase –II (to be completed by 2011) envisages the development of terminals at Bandra and Marve.. The phase III of the project deals with the complete development of infrastructure for maintaining required level of service. The Details of the land requirements for terminals, number of berths required by 2031 is presented in the following table.

Location	Minimum Built Up area for the terminal Building (Sq m)	Total Number of Berths by 2031
Nariman Point (Phase –I)	4000	5
Bandra(Phase –II)	3000	5
Juhu (Phase –II, Optional)	750	3
Versova (Phase –I)	3000	4
Marve (Phase –II)	3000	2
Borivali (Phase –I)	3000	7

The service will be provided with average waiting period of 15 minutes in peak hours & 30 minutes in non-peak hours for passengers. The passenger water transport service will be operated for minimum 300 days in a calendar year. The estimated cost of the project is around 300 Crores.

Environmental friendly mode of transport.

Significant savings in travel time due to increased speed and reduced delays because of no congestion problems.

Savings in Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC) due to reduction in congestion on the existing roads.

Reduction in air and noise pollution along the existing corridors.

Diversion of traffic on water transport will provide relief to local roads in the high density areas.

No problems of car driving and hence reduced stress and mental tensions.

Overall improvement in quality of life.

HISTORY OF THE PROJECT

Offers had been invited for appointment of BOOT operators from five short listed agencies (M/s. Four Seasons Marine & Air Services Ltd., M/s. Satyagiri Shipping Co. Ltd., M/s. Maldar Catamarans Pvt. India, M/s. Triton Overwater Transport Agency Ltd. and M/s. SKS Ltd.

The environmental clearance was given by MoEF for Bandra, Juhu, Versova and Borivali vide their letter dated 6th Dec 2005 and for Nariman Point and Marve vide communication dated 15th May 2006

M/s Four Seasons Marine and Air Services Ltd and M/s. Satyagiri Shipping Co. Ltd had submitted the offers on 23.07.2003

The Successful bidder M/s Satyagiri were issued letter of Award on 19th July 2006. After finalizing shareholding pattern, concession agreement was required to be signed. However, M/s Satyagiri could not finalise the shareholding pattern. Due to this, MSRDC has cancelled Letter of Award issued to M/s Satyagiri on 07.02.2008

PRESENT STATUS OF THE PROJECT

MSRDC is in the process of re-inviting bids for implementation.