TMC identifies phase 1 inland water transport routes
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has identified one potential route, and two conceptual routes for their ambitious Inland Water Transport (IWT) network covering a total distance of 124 km.
This network will provide seamless connectivity to the entire region. The project has been divided into two phases, of which the potential route under phase one has been identified as Vasai- Mira Bhayandar-Ghodbundar Road-Kolshet-Saket-DivaBhiwandi-Kalyan which covers a distance of 46 km.
Under phase two of the project, two conceptual routes has been identified, of which one route is identified as Saket- VashiKarvi Nagar-Navi Mumbai (CBD –Sector 11) covering a distance of 37 km.
The second route has been identified as SaketMandala-Trombay-Gateway of India which covers a distance of 40 km. The TMC officials have identified the routes under phase one after ensuring the potential location of jetties, origin/destination and the location of Intermodal Transport Hub at every routes.
According to TMC officials, around eight jetties would be constructed at places like Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Saket (Thane), Kolshet (Thane), Godbundar (Thane), Diva, Bhiwandi and Kalyan for the project.
A TMC official said, “The phase one has been planned after taking into consideration all the potential location of jetties which would be constructed by the State Government. The intermodal hub would be constructed at Kolshet area in Thane for the commuters to interchange into any modes of public transport after alighting in Kolshet area.”
The TMC officials are yet to decide on the construction of intermodal hub on the routes under phase two. “The phase two is under the planning stage. We will plan the phase two after completing the DPR of the phase one project”, added a TMC official.
The expenses for the phase one route have been jotted down in the essential cost component report prepared by TMC. It reveals that the State government will bear capital investment of Rs 280.94 crore for the phase one of the project.
Under the essential cost component for phase one, a major fund guzzler 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.
The 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. The six municipal corporations which would come together for setting up the internal water transport include Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur and Ulhasnagar.
“Once the tenders are floated, the six municipal corporations who will be coming together for setting up the inland water transport, would appoint the consultants for preparing the Detailed Project Report for phase one of the project,” added a TMC official.