The Mumbai Water Metro project, which aims to introduce battery-powered ferries to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis and surrounding areas, is expected to roll out in phases starting in December, Maharashtra Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said on Monday.
Speaking to PTI, Rane said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) water metro is expected to be submitted by his department by February 28.
The state government has proposed six to eight routes in the MMR to be connected through a network of electric-powered boats under the water taxi project, estimated to cost Rs 1,200 crore, according to the minister.
He said that after the DPR is submitted, discussions would be held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the feasibility of routes, and two of the finalised routes will be taken up first for implementation.
“We have decided to start with Mumbai city and then expand to the wider MMR, which includes adjoining districts,” Rane said.
Water metro services within Mumbai city will focus on Nariman Point–Worli–Bandra–Juhu–Versova routes, he added, noting, “We plan to take up two routes in the first phase.”
“Once the Radio Club jetty near the Gateway of India in south Mumbai is ready, the water metro will take just 40 minutes to ferry people to Navi Mumbai International Airport,” he said.
Rane added that a formal announcement regarding the project, modelled on the Kochi Water Metro in Kerala, will be made by Fadnavis in the state budget scheduled for March 6.
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