More "Roll On Roll Off" Boats To Be Operated In Gujarat: Vijay Rupani

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced in the state assembly on Wednesday that his government is planning to start seven or eight new "Roll On Roll Off" (RoRo) ferry services.

Some of these "Roll On Roll Off" services could be extended upto Mumbai, he said, while responding to a question about Ghogha-Dahej ferry service.

RoRo ferry boats transport both passengers and their vehicles, however at present the Ghogha-Dahej service only transports passengers.

"Ghogha-Dahej ferry service is one of its kind in India. Now we are planning to start seven or eight such ferry services, as people in Kutch, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar feel the need for such services for better connectivity," Mr Rupani said.

"For example, people in Kutch want to go directly to Mumbai (by the sea route). So we have planned to extend the service upto Mumbai from places such as Jamnagar, Kutch and Pipavav," the Chief Minister said.

Congress's Chandanji Thakor had raised the issue of the ferry service between Ghogha in Saurashtra and Dahej in South Gujarat, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, seeking to know its status.

Energy minister Saurabh Patel said the service is not operational during monsoon.

The private agency which runs the service has commissioned a new and bigger boat, and the service will resume next month, the minister said. As many as 54,639 passengers have used the service so far, he said.