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THANE: Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske from Thane sought the intervention of the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways to clear the paths and help set sail the much-delayed waterway transport in the region, which, he claimed, was stuck due to various approvals and paucity of funds.
Mhaske said he emphasised the importance of the project before the ministry as a viable alternative to the conventional and saturated road transport in Mumbai and the neighbouring suburbs of Thane district.
“Passenger water transport is the need of the hour in this region considering the rise in population and saturation of existing modes of road and railway transport.
If the project is completed in time, it will greatly improve connectivity and ease of travel within the MMR,” he said, appealing to the ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways to direct the concerned authorities to clear all obstacles in the path of the project.
It may be recalled the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) proposed connecting distant Thane suburbs of Mira-Bhayander, Thane city, Bhiwandi, and Dombivli within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in the first phase of the inland passenger water transport system.
The central and state govts were to construct four jetties in 1.5 years at a collective cost of Rs 96.12 crore, but the project presently seems to have become a non-starter due to various issues, including approvals and financial roadblocks, it is learnt
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