The Konkan Express: Ro-Ro Ferry Resumes Service After 40 Years

After more than 40 years, passenger boat services are set to resume at the historic Vijaydurg port in Maharashtra. The launch of a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry next week is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and the Konkan region to just five and a half hours.

The Ro-Ro ferry, which can carry both passengers and vehicles, is part of the state government's ambitious plan to establish South Asia's fastest Ro-Ro service, connecting Mumbai to the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

Maharashtra Port Minister Nitesh Rane announced that the service will commence on September 1 from Bhaucha Dhakka in Mumbai, with regular stops at Jaigad in Ratnagiri and Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg.

A Historic Revival

The resumption of services is being hailed as a revival of Vijaydurg's rich maritime history, which had been interrupted in 1983 when the passenger vessels Konkan Shakti and Konkan Sevak ceased operations.

"This will be the first time a passenger boat will directly dock at Vijaydurg," said port inspector Umesh Mahadik. He reminisced about the old vessels that used to anchor offshore, with smaller boats ferrying passengers to the port. The new ferry, however, will dock directly at the port, marking a significant improvement in convenience.

For local residents, the return of maritime travel is both a nostalgic and hopeful moment, signaling a boost for the local economy. Akaram Tamhankar, an 80-year-old resident who once worked in Mumbai, recalled the 12-hour sea journey from Mumbai to Vijaydurg, a popular mode of transport before the advent of modern highways.

Economic and Touristic Boost

The new ferry service is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism and the local economy. Riyaz Qazi, the sarpanch of Vijaydurg village, noted that the service will not only attract tourists but will also facilitate the transport of goods such as seasonal mangoes. He believes that the service will positively impact the entire region, including Devgad, Vengurla, and Sawantwadi.

The historic Vijaydurg Fort, once the naval headquarters of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has a deep-rooted maritime history. Rajiv Vasant Parulekar, founder of the Vijaydurg Fort Utsav Samiti, highlighted the tourism potential of the service but also suggested that the government consider lowering ticket prices to make the ferry more accessible to the middle class.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.