Roaring biz for Ro-Ro with weekly 8k pax

As Ganeshotsav nears, the water transport service is witnessing good response

The Ro-Ro ferries running between Mandwa and Mumbai are currently carrying 8,000 passengers weekly. As the Ganeshotsav festival nears, several resorts and hotels in the Raigad district have now opened up for tourists. Also, after relaxation in lockdown norms, Mumbai's water transport service is witnessing promising response. Several ambulances carrying passengers are also using this service for quick connectivity. In fact, it has become a boon for people staying in remote areas of the Raigad district where hospitals are limited.

The travel time from Mumbai to Mandwa is approximately one hour and during Ganeshotsav, as mainly people from Mumbai travel to Raigad district, the service is providing a major relief as people can travel with their vehicles through waterways.

Devika Saigal, Director of Ro-pax ship operating agency, said that M2M ferries connect Mumbai city to the Raigad region. "This is not only for leisure and tourism but it also plays a big role for quick accessibility to Mumbai for medical facility and for employment benefits. Recently, country's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had visited the Ro-pax facility and saw the ongoing operations. Seeing 400 people and 100 cars on board he was happy and complimented the smooth public-private collaboration which has led to a world-class facility expressing his desire to bring such facility in other parts of the coastal city." She said.

Currently, Ro-Ro ferries are operating for four trips on weekends and three trips on weekdays. Carrying over 8,000 passengers, 1500 cars, and 350 bikes weekly. To travel in Ro-Ro ferries, passengers need to pay Rs 350 per ticket and additional Rs 300 for accompanying pets, Rs 100 for a cycle, Rs 200 for a two-wheeler, Rs 1,000 for a four-wheeler and Rs 3,300 for a bus respectively.