If you've been planning to visit Alibaug, there can't be a better time to do it! Now you can reach the beach destination in the all new Ro-Ro ferry from Mumbai! The city’s first Ro-Ro ferry service is going to begin next month between Bhaucha Dhakka aka Ferry Wharf in Mazagaon and Mandwa in Alibaug.
Wondering what Ro-Ro stands for? It's for roll on, roll off. The new service will not only shorten travel time but it will also aid in easing the traffic on Mumbai and Goa highway.
Here’s everything you need to know about the much-awaited Ro-Ro Ferry Service which will make your weekend trips a lot easier and a lot more fun!
What is it?
Mumbai-Alibaug Ro-Ro Ferry Service is a part of Government of India’s Sagarmala Initiative. It aims at developing the country’s coastal areas. The Indian government and the Mumbai Port Trust have spent approximately ₹150 crore on the project. Besides reduced travel cost and travel time, another advantage is that travellers can offload their car at Mandwa and proceed to explore other destinations.
The service will not stop even in the monsoon, unlike the usual ferry services from the Gateway of India in Mumbai to Alibaug.
When is it starting?
Mumbai Maritime Board officials have confirmed February end as the estimated beginning of this service. The Ro-Ro Ferry Service was supposed to launch in May 2018. However, legal tangles kept it in the pipeline for all this time. Finally, things are sorted, and the vessel that will serve as the roll-on, roll-off car ferry has arrived from Greece.
Once the vessel clears the trials and safety checks, service will begin by the end of this month or early March.
How to book tickets?
The booking details will be made available to the public once the dredging process is complete. The company handling the ferry services will then take ownership of all things and respond with the booking details.
Timings, cost & capacity
Cost: Tickets will be priced around Rs 1,000 per four-wheeler and Rs 235 for passengers. If true, this could mean that a one-way ride from Mumbai to Alibaug for a party of four could cost around Rs 2,000.
Travel time: Moreover, the ferry will cut the travel time between Mumbai and Alibaug from four hours to 45 minutes. Each journey between the two landings will take about an hour, of which 45 minutes will be travel and 15 minutes for loading/offloading of vehicles.
Capacity: Every ferry would be able to accommodate 513 persons including 500 passengers and 13 crew members. Additionally, 80 cars can fit into each ferry. The number of cars will drop down to 60 in case the sea is rough.
If you plan to visit Alibaug before March
If you are hellbent on visiting Alibaug before the service starts, you can still take a ferry from Mumbai to Alibaug. The standard ferries operate between Gateway of India and Mandwa Port and have a travel time of 45 minutes to an hour. As for the cost, a one way ticket costs up to ₹150 per way to ₹135.
The four major ferry service providers include Ajanta, Maldar Catamarans, Apollo Catamaran and PNP Maritime Services. Ferries are available roughly every 45 minutes. The first boat departs from Mumbai at 6.15 am and the last boat from Mandwa leaves at 7.30 pm.
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