Proposal to set up terminal at Mandwa submitted to state : Hindustan Times

We submitted the proposal to the state government last week. After we get the approval, we will start constructing the breakwater wall and the water terminal. ASHEESH SHARMA, chief executive officer of MMB

MUMBAI: The proposed inland water transport project on the city’s eastern coast is inching closer to being realised after the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) submitted a proposal for a water terminal at Mandwa to the cabinet sub-committee. If the proposal is approved, the, MMB will invite tenders for construction works worth Rs150 crore.

Asheesh Sharma, chief executive officer of MMB, said, “We submitted the proposal to the state government last week. After we get the approval, we will start constructing the breakwater wall and the water terminal.” A breakwater wall is a barrier that protects a harbour or shore from the full impact of the waves. The cabinet sub-committee is expected to take up the proposal in its next meeting.

Early this year, the state government transferred the project from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) to the MMB and made it the nodal agency for the project that will be operated between Ferry Wharf, Nerul and Mandwa.

The MMB will fund the construction at Mandwa, Cidco will do so at Nerul and the MbPT at Ferry Wharf. While, the MbPT is learnt to have finalised its plan, which will be submitted to the state government soon, Cidco has not prepared one yet. Private players will be invited to operate the ferry service which will include catamarans and Ro-Ro vessels.

According to officials, the construction of water terminals is expected to take around 18 months, so services are likely to start in early 2017.

The water terminals will have facilities such as bus and auto stands, a waiting lounge, a cafeteria, snack counters, restrooms, book stalls, parking areas and ATM machines.