From highways to high seas | Ahmedabad News – Times of India – Times of India

AHMEDABAD: On May 20, if everything goes according to schedule, Gujarat will take a giant step towards realizing one of the most ambitious projects the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro Ro) ferry service conceptualized decades ago. The construction of Ro-Ro terminals at Ghogha and Dahej on either side of Gulf of Khambhat is expected to be completed on this day.

This means that transporters and travellers could simply reach Ghogha port, drive their vehicles inside a Ro-Ro ferry and reach Dahej within 90 minutes flat for the onward journey after a few months. Touted to be game changer for transportation of goods and passengers between Saurashtra and south Gujarat, the ferry service will cut the distance between the two regions by helping avoid the circuitous 360 km road journey to just 31 km by sea.

However, the financial viability for the ferry operator would strongly depend on how many transporters and passengers opt to use this sea route to the conventional highways.

Though conceptualized several years ago by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), the serious work on Ro-Ro ferry service began only in 2011 when Essar Projects Ltd was awarded the contract to build the two terminals, which required specialized engineering skills due to its complex design. "It's an engineering marvel...a new mode of transportation and a novelty for someone to experience," said Ajay Bhadoo, vice-chairman and CEO, GMB.

Over the years, the cost of building the terminals escalated to Rs 615 crore from Rs 300 crore a decade ago. But this was not the only rough weather the project faced. After several failed attempts, GMB managed to select a ferry service operator through competitive bidding.

A little known Surat-based Detox Group's firm Saurashtra Enviro Projects Ltd, which has tied up with

Seattle, US-based Black Ball Transportation Inc, was selected as the ferry operator.

Two more terminals planned in kutch, one in south gujarat

With the Ro-Ro service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar and Dahej in Bharuch on the verge of completion, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is exploring the possibility of similar services at three more locations in the state. "Once we are done with Ghogha-Dahej project, we are planning two more terminals in the Gulf of Kutch and one in south Gujarat. This will cover the entire Gujarat coast," said Ajay Bhadoo, CEO, GMB.

Mumbai-based consultancy firm i-Maritime has already conducted a feasibility study of locations in Gulf of Kutch.

These projects will be at greenfield locations. "However, for simple passenger ferry services, we can look at the existing ports. For example, in the northern side of Gulf of Kutch, we are looking at a fresh location. But on the southern side, we have the existing Rozi Port near Jamnagar. In south Gujarat, we have Hazira port," he added. "We are essentially targeting linkages of south Gujarat and Saurashtra because there is tremendous demand for transportation, both in terms of passengers as well as goods between the two regions," he said.

last-mile connectivity vital to project's success

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From highways to high seas | Ahmedabad News - Times of India - Times of India