Surat: Ghogha – Hazira ( Bhavnagar – Surat ) Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) ferry service is likely to be launched on December 9 this year. Industrially developed Hazira is 20 km away from Surat. It has almost become a part of Surat. Ro-Ro ferry service will curtail travel time between Ghogha and Hazira from 10 hours at present to little over 3 hours, or travel distance from 360 km (Surat – Bhavnagar) to 67 nautical miles.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had in October last week announced that Ghogha – Hazira ro-ro ferry service will start in the month of December. The route makes sense as lakhs of people from Saurasthra region including Bhavnagar, Amreli and Junagadh work and live in Surat in diamond and textile industries.

Indigo Seaways Private Limited (ISPL) which currently operates Ghogha – Dahej Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro ferry services will use Indigo1 passenger vessel having 225-seat capacity on Ghogha – Hazira sea route. The vessel will remain non-operational in monsoon period. The ISPL will use Essar jetty in Hazira for Ghogha – Hazira Ro-Ro ferry service.

DeshGujarat