Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 16: In a significant move to decongest Mumbai’s traffic-choked roads, the Maharashtra government has unveiled plans to develop sea routes and introduce water taxi services across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), state Ports Minister Nitesh Rane confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking to PTI, Rane revealed that a detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared, and consultations are underway with international experts.
"We have seen the success of Mumbai Metro. On those lines, we will be starting water taxis in the MMR. We have already identified eight to nine routes," he said.
As part of the initiative, 30-seater electric vessels will be launched from the Gateway of India to Alibaug and Elephanta Island. These environment-friendly boats, sourced from Swedish firm Candela Cruise, aim to offer sustainable and affordable transport options. The first two of 15 vessels are expected to arrive by August 2025.
The water taxi services will be managed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, while existing wooden boats will continue to operate, giving commuters a variety of options similar to road-based transport aggregators.
In another ambitious development, the government plans to roll out a Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) service from Mazgaon (Mumbai) to Malvan (Sindhudurg district), reducing the travel time to just four-and-a-half hours. The first service is expected to be launched during the Ganpati festival later this year. Supporting infrastructure like jetties in Ratnagiri, Vijaydurg, and Malvan are already under construction.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a major overhaul of Mumbai's road infrastructure, stating that the city’s road network will be fully concretised and pothole-free by April 2027.
"Between December 2026 to March-April 2027, 100 per cent of roads will be concretised," said Shinde, who also oversees the Urban Development portfolio.
Currently, 400 km of the planned 700 km of roads are under concretisation. Utility ducts are being integrated to prevent repetitive digging, and ‘M60’ grade Ultra Thin White Topping material is being used to enhance durability, ensuring a lifespan of 25–30 years for the roads.
Together, these transformative projects reflect the state government’s intent to reshape Mumbai's infrastructure through eco-friendly innovations and long-term planning.