Ferry service between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai by month end

MUMBAI: Harried train commuters on Harbour line can now look forward to some relief as the National Maritime Board has given green signal to the much-awaited ferry service between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.

Hind Jal Pravasi Vahtuk Sanghtana (HJPVS) will start a ferry service from Belapur, Navi Mumbai (Sagar Vihar, sector VI) to Gateway of India in South Mumbai.

"We are going to start the ferry service from February 20 as our organisation has received required permission," Chairman of HJPVS Sandeep Naik told PTI.

The service will enable commuters to travel from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai in just 30-35 minutes as compared to one hour 10 minutes by local train.

The total distance between Belapur and Gateway of India is 14 nautical miles which will be covered in just 30-35 minutes in a ferry, Naik said.

The service would come as a relief to the commuters on the Harbour line (Panvel in Navi Mumbai to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai) who otherwise have no option but to travel in overcrowded trains, he said.

We had carried out a survey in Navi Mumbai before starting with the service. The response from local people as well as corporate sector was remarkable, Naik said.

As per the survey, 5000 plus passengers can travel daily from the ferry Navi Mumbai to Mumbai.

Initially, the ferry service will be made available every two hours and will transport 200 commuters in one go, he said