The long-awaited water taxi service from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai will finally see the light of the day as Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is set to launch it during his visit to the metropolitan city in the first week of January 2022.
The water taxi service was brought into focus as a part of the central government’s inland waterways initiative in the previous few years after being first envisaged about 30 years ago.
The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), Maharashtra Maritime Board and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) worked in coordination to implement this project designed to cut down the commute time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The Domestic Cruise Terminal at Ferry Wharf in Mumbai was constructed by MbPT, whereas CIDCO is working on the terminals at Nerul and Belapur.
Commuters can avail this water taxi service for transportation purposes between Mumbai and the two jetties in Navi Mumbai. The total fare for the same will be somewhere between Rs 1,200-Rs 1,500 for each passenger.
There will also be a stoppage at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and the fare till there will be about Rs 750 per person, Indian Express reports.
Private operators will be handling the water taxi service, and pool cab arrangements will be made at CST, Churchgate, Nariman Point, Belapur, Nerul, amongst others, to provide last-mile connectivity to the commuters.