TMC’s IWT project to take shape under PPP

The ambitious Inland Water Transport (IWT) project of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) will take shape under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The TMC has identified this to be the feasible model for the project and will move ahead to finalise it once the ownership of the assets is fixed after a meeting with other parties involved in the project.

Under the conceptual PPP plan, private sector would run the ferries and catamarans needed for the project while Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) would supervise and handle the civil works of the projects.

Regarding the cost components, the TMC officials said that the total PPP model would be worth around Rs 398 crore, out of which, a major chunk of Rs 336 crore would be -borne out by the private players- for the operation and maintenance of catamarans, the project report accessed by FPJ revealed. The second component under the PPP model is chalked out for the construction and maintenance cost for ticket counters and parking facility is to be borne out by private players. The estimated cost for the same is Rs 49 crore. The last component under the model caters to the signal and vessel management cost which is estimated at Rs 12 crore. Apart from this, a major fund guzzler under the essential cost component is the ‘Intermodal Hub’, which will come up at Kolshet in Thane city. The hub that will consist of a restaurant/café, parking and land transport facilities and other utilities have been earmarked around Rs 100 crore for being set up.

Among other expenses jotted down in the essential cost component report, construction of one jetty, a drop off, ticketing counter along with information desk would cost around Rs 7 crore. TMC has planned to construct seven jetties, which will cost around Rs 49 crore. So also the project will include building of ‘draw bridge/movable bridge/bascule bridge’ for which a meager Rs 50 crore has been set aside as an optional cost component.

The conceptual plan also reveals that the State government will bear capital investment of Rs 280.94 crore for the phase I of the project. The first phase includes putting in place a IWT corridor for cities including Vasai-Mira Road-Bhyandar-Thane-Bhi-wandi-Kalyan.

A proposal would be submitted by Maharashtra Maritime Board to the government for obtaining financial assistance for the IWT project seeking 50 percent funding by either central or state governments. The remaining 50 percent would be funded by respective municipal corporations for the infrastructure works in their area

TMC is processing the tender procedure for preparing the Detailed Project Report for the IWT project.

“We will decide on the fixed PPP model after we receive the funding from the government. We would conduct a meeting with all the six municipal corporation once the ownership of the assets is fixed that will pave the way for the IWT project,” said a TMC official, requesting anonymity.

Under the PPP plan, private sector would run the ferries and catamarans needed for the project while MMB would supervise and handle the civil works