Ghogha-Hazira Ro Ro ferry to set sail from October end

Rajkot: The ambitious Ro-Ro ferry project is expected to get the much-needed lifeline with the entire infrastructure to restart the operations completed in Hazira within the stipulated time frame.
The Ghogha-Dahej ferry service had run into troubled waters due to a plethora of issues, mainly heavy siltation at Dahej, since it was flagged off in 2017. It was ultimately suspended in September 2019 by the ferry operator Indigo Seaways, which found it unviable and safety concerns due to lack of adequate depth at Dahej.
In July, Adani Group’s Adani Hazira Ports Pvt Ltd (AHPPL) was awarded the contract to build the temporary infrastructure at Hazira port for re-starting the beleaguered Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry service. AHPPL quoted the lowest - Re one in the bid. Central government-run Deendayal Port Trust (DPT) was tasked with reviving the project and it had issued tenders calling for developers.
It is likely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this new route during his Gujarat visit on October 31 for Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary celebration.
DPT chairman SK Mehta said, “We expect to commence operation of the Ro-Ro ferry service by October end and are awaiting a formal announcement in this regard. While the union ministry of shipping will finalize the date, work on creating a temporary infrastructure at the port will complete as per deadline.”
Meanwhile, renovation and maintenance work is also completed at the Ghogha port from where services had been suspended.
While officials of the shipping ministry confirmed commencing the services by the end of this month, they refused to divulge more information.
Source said Ro-Ro service will operate two services daily from both ends and also carry cargo along with passengers.
All the fanfare over commencement of the service in 2017 ran aground ever since it touched the waters. The trade and business community at Bhavnagar and Surat have been demanding resumption of operation and even made several representations to the shipping ministry. The project was finally handed over to DPT from GMB to create proper infrastructure to facilitate smooth sail of the services.