Gujarat in cruise control to bridge gulf

AHMEDABAD: Saurashtra to Mumbai in just two hours on sea. Well, that’s exactly what the Gujarat government is presently seized with. The entire action plan would be executed through establishing a network of ferry services in and around the Gulf of Cambay, thereby linking several cities of the state separated by the gulf. The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has already invited fresh expression of interest (EoI) for a part of the project “to develop and maintain the Ro-Ro ferry terminals at Gogha and Hazira and to operate Ro-Ro ferry service between two terminals on BOT basis”.

What’s more, international players such as Wilh Wilhelmsen ASA (WW), a leading global provider of maritime services, as well as another well-known player from Singapore have informally approached the GMB for the project. The state wants to expand the outer limit of the project to Mumbai, south India as well as the UAE in the long run.

It takes more than 12 hours from cities in Saurashtra to reach important south Gujarat destinations like Surat and Mumbai, though they are barely 100-200 kms away as the crow flies.

Initially, the GMB had shortlisted three sites as ferry terminals, namely Dahej, Gogha and Suvali. Furthermore, two more sites at Jafrabad and Pipavav were identified as possible locations. “The relative merits of these sites have been studied and as a result, it is suggested that a Ro-Ro Terminal will, in due course, be developed at the port of Pipavav,” says the study prepared by a consortium of Beckett Rankine Partnership, Kashec and Ray Infrastructure for the GMB. The study examines the five potential terminals for operation of a passenger-cum-ro-ro ferry service in the gulf.


“The ferry network is intended to speed up travel within southern Gujarat and between Saurashtra and south Gujarat, and at the same time relieve congestion on the state highways around the gulf. Ferries will link the four terminals and there will be a link to Mumbai,” said a GMB official quoting the summary report.

He said further expansion will include routes serving destinations further south in India, with the possibility of international routes to the Gulf States and the West.

The study states there is a potential demand for ferry services across the Gulf of Cambay. It adds that revenues generated from the single ferry service between Gogha and Dahej will not support the construction cost of the terminals.
“A ferry service between Gogha and Suvali is the best ferry route between the three terminals. But although returning an operating profit may not support the full costs of the terminals,” states the study.

It says the best prospect for a successful ferry service is to develop a network that includes links to Mumbai and Pipavav, and the Suvali terminal is critical to the creation of a ferry service and needs to be an integral part of any port developed at Hazira.

“The revenue projections show that the terminal at Suvali is a significant revenue generator, especially in the development stages, and this terminal is critical to any development. However, the nature of the coast at Suvali requires that the terminal be built within a protected harbour or breakwater zone. We doubt that the cost, which would be huge, could be supported out of the revenues, and recommend that this terminal be developed in conjunction with the LNG terminal at Hazira,” the study states further.

According to the report, private sector ferry operators will show keenness in this project if some governmental controls are relaxed, and ferry operators with international experience will be needed for its successful operation.