SOON, TRAVEL FROM VASAI TO KALYAN IN JUST 70 MINUTES

The first phase of the Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) Rs287.95-crore inland water transport project will span 45km and cover the distance between Vasai and Kalyan. It is expected to reduce the commute from Vasai to Kalyan to 70 min utes, less than the time it takes to travel by road — about 90 minutes to two hours.

The TMC has allotted Rs9.50 crore for the project this year.

“The water transport wil cover inter-city and intra-city areas. People will not only be able to commute from one part of Thane to another, but also to Vasai, Kalyan, Mira-bhayander and Navi Mumbai via the water ways.the first phase of the project will cover Vasai, Mira Bhayander, Thane, Kolshet Ghodbunder Road, Saket, Diva Bhiwandi and Kalyan. This is a distance of 25 nautical miles or 45km,” said civic commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal, while declaring the budget.

The main station will be at Kol shet, where the TMC plans to con struct waiting rooms, ticket win dows and parking facilities. The corporation plans to enlist the help of neighbouring civic bodies that will benefit from the project the central government and the maritime board.

In August last year, the TMC had conducted a meeting with the civic chiefs of several municipa corporations, requesting their co-operation. Each civic body agreed to construct jetties in their area as part of the project.

The TMC will develop 13 jetties across the city at areas such as Waghbil, Mumbra, Kalwa Kasarvadavli and Owala. The civic body will provide infra structure, boats and ships, while the operations will be handled by