Ahmedabad: A terminal to operate a Ro-Pax ferry has been constructed at Hazira (Surat) and all arrangements have been completed. On November 8, Ro-Pax ferry service will be launched between Hazira and Ghogha (Bhavnagar). 370 km distance to Bhavnagar from Surat will be cut down to just 60 km through this service. Ro-Pax ferry will accommodate passengers and vehicles both. These details were shared by MoS Shipping, Government of India and Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Mansukh Mandaviya today here.

He said, ticket fare for one passenger will be Rs. 600 for general class, Rs. 800 for executive class, Rs. 1200 for a car, Rs. 350 for a bike, Rs. 7500 for a truck weighing more than 36 mt, Rs. 5,000 for a bus, Rs. 4,000 for a tempo traveler. Booking online will start tomorrow (2nd October).

30 trucks and 7 small trucks, 100 two-wheelers, 550 passengers can be accommodated in Ghogha – Hazira ferry. Passenger buses operated between Surat and Saurashtra will be able to board this ferry for further journey. This ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha will be able to operate through entire year, even in high current days of monsoon, Mandaviya said.

Mandaviya said the new service will also be useful for industrial growth of Saurashtra as produce will get new connectivity close to Delhi – Mumbai route.

Mandaviya in reply to media queries said a smaller ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej will also be operated after dredging works.

Mandaviya said, next plan is to connect Pipavav and Diu to Surat via ferry services.He added, “Construction work for a jetty at central government owned JNPT Mumbai has started and we will link it to Pipavav, thanks to which the cargo to South India will move via this route. We want to make a facility in which 100 trucks can move at one go. Some dredging work at Diu is pending. Though there’s a jetty available there, bigger vessel can come only after sufficient dredging.”

“A tender was floated for construction of terminal on Hazira side. Essar and Adani due to their own jetties there and therefore they maintain draft. We made clause of minimum 5 meter draft availability and completion of works in three months. Adani’s offer was lowest and therefore construction and operation was awarded to Adani. Warfare for ferry service movement worth around Rs. 5000 to Rs. 7000, operator will pay. Tender by Adani was quoted at Re. 1. Kandla Port on behalf of the Government of India spent operational expense of less than Rs. 1 crore on account of Hazira terminal,” he said in reply to a question.

From Surat’s Hazira to Bhavnagar’s Ghogha ROPAX Ferry service will be flagged off virtually by Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi on 8th November,2020

Congratulations Gujarat ! pic.twitter.com/wXrw9X97D6

— Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) November 1, 2020

Mandaviya said, Hazira is a live port. The company has allocated just one of their many jetties for Ropax ferry service. The company continues to maintain 7-8 meter draft for its operations.

Ghogha – Hazira ferry service will be operated by Surat based Indigo Seaways Pvt ltd which is also an operator on Ghogha – Dahej route.

Mandaviya said two other ferries are also going to be launched on November 8 at Kochi in Kerala and Assam in North East. This will bring solution to the issue of pollution and ease the burden of traffic on roads. He said potential of more such places has been identified and mapped.

One more such ferry service will be launched in upcoming days by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Karimganj in Assam to Bangladesh and further to Kolkata on November 8.

DeshGujarat