Saralnama
Starting September 1, a Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry service will connect Mumbai with Jaigad in Ratnagiri and Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg, reducing travel time by nearly half, State Ports Minister Nitesh Rane announced. The ferry will cut the Mumbai to Ratnagiri road journey from eight hours to 3-4 hours and the train journey from six hours to 5-6 hours by ferry. The launch was delayed from before Ganesh Chaturthi due to rough weather, prioritizing passenger safety. A five-day test run will precede the commercial service, which will start from Bhau Cha Dhakka in Mumbai at 6 am, with a two-hour turnaround at Vijaydurg. The service has secured 147 permissions from various authorities, including the Union Shipping Ministry and Mumbai Port Authority. The vessel M2M Princess, touted as South Asia’s fastest passenger-cum-vehicle ferry, can carry two-wheelers, cars, buses, and passengers. Future expansions may include jetties at Shrivardhan and Mandwa. The ferry offers a faster and safer alternative to road travel along the Konkan coast. (Updated 27 Aug 2025, 14:39 IST; source: link)