Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for Ro-Ro ferry service

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for the Ro-Ro Ferry Service Terminal at Ghogha, connecting Saurashtra with South Gujarat (Dahej) in the Gulf of Cambay.

The project aims to facilitate speedy passenger travel and smooth cargo movement through the sea route between Ghogha and Dahej. While distance between the two ports by land route is 360 km, by the sea-route it is only 31 km.

"The Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off)Ferry Service will become an exemplary model for travelling through sea route in the country. It will revive the glorious historical past of the two big ports of Gujarat-Bhavanagar and Ghogha," Modi, said in his address.

"A 500 MW lignite-based power plant at an investment of Rs 3,750 crore will be set up in Ghogha taluka. The four-lane road between Bhavanagar and Bagodara will cost Rs 1,020 crore," Modi said.

Essar Projects Limited (EPL), part of the billionaire Essar group, has bagged the Rs 225 crore Ro-Ro project. It is scheduled to be completed in 15 months.

"The Ro-Ro Ferry Service will facilitate safe and speedy passenger travel and goods movement between Gogha and Dahej by reducing the 360 km land-route to a 31 km sea-route," an official statement said adding it would lead to fuel savings and travel-time, it said.

"The vision of Gujarat is to provide a strategic connectivity through this project. It will go a long way in boosting trade and industry in the region by substantially reducing the travel time," President & CEO, Essar Projects Alwyn Bowden said.