Goa-Mumbai steamer to restart in 3 months

ADITYA ANAND/MUMBAI MIRROR, MUMBAI | 18 July 2013 17:58 IST

Goa-Mumbai steamer Konkani Shakti

Twenty-two years after its last voyage the Mumbai-Goa steamer service will set sail once again, with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Maharashtra counterpart Prthviraj Chauhan keen on relaunching the service.

A proposal to restart the service was made by the Goa Government in the last week of May, and was promptly seconded by the Maharashtra Government.

"It has been cleared and the service will be launched in the next three months," Captain of Ports, Goa, James Braganza told Mirror. 

In a presentation on the service to the state government, Braganza said, "The service will be purely an alternative mode of transport between Mumbai and Goa, minus any frills, but comfortable." 

As earlier, the service is expected to operate between Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) in Mazagaon and Panaji port.

En route it will halt at Raigad, Malvan, Ratnagiri and Vengurla, where smaller boats will ferry passengers to the shore. 

According to Braganza, there is much scope for a daily steamer service on the route, as trains invariably run full and buses are not preferred by many. 

In the past, a few operators like Damania did launch catamaran services, but they never really took off. "It has never been a pleasant experience for passengers due to the heavy rolling and pitching effects of the sea," Braganza explained. 

"A private catamaran service run by Blue Ocean Cruises currently does operate on the route. But it is targeted at tourists and charges Rs 13,000 per head," Braganza said. "The steamer service will cater to regular commuters and tickets will be on par with the railways." 

The Goa Government has invited an expression of interest from reputed shipping companies and operators to re-commence the service, and a technical committee has been formed to decide on the type of ship and other technicalities, an official at the state secretariat said. 

After the service's last voyage in 1991, Konkan Shakti and Konkan Sevak, the two vessels operated on the route, were sent to ferry the armed forces to Sri Lanka at the behest of the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.


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Previous Comments

Great! One of the big charmes of traveling to Goa may come back. My full support!!!

- Axel, Arambol | 23 rd July 2013 17:22

 

Good move..

I have nice memories of this journey in 1984, it was wonderful but dirty and uncomfortable long hot stiky trip to Goa..

I hope this time they will do it better then before, i would like to travel again only if they will have clean ,faster, bigger comfortable luxery liner.. with onboard dutyfree shoping mall.

Mayby i ask toomuch, its my dream..

- Charu , Netherlands | 23 rd July 2013 15:48

 

What a brilliant suggestion. The service should have never been stopped in the first Place. Once started no stopping again...

- Jose, Jose Goa UK | 19 th July 2013 18:49

 

I have nostalgic memories of travelling by sea from Goa to Mumbai and back in Rohini, Konkan Sevak and Konkan Shakti.

It is music to my ears to know about re-commencing of the steamer ship service which is in great demand from the people of Goa as well as tourists.

Congratulations to the CMs of Maharashtra and Goa for this move.

- Francisco, Goa | 18 th July 2013 19:44

 

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