Important Facts For Prelims
ROPAX Service
- 16 Mar 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
The Ministry of Shipping has launched a roll on-roll off cum passenger ferry service, called ‘ROPAX’, between Mumbai and Mandwa (Maharashtra).
- ROPAX service is a water transport service project under Eastern Waterfront Development.
- The road distance from Mumbai to Mandwa is about 110 kilometres, and it takes three to four hours, whereas by waterway the distance is about 18 kilometres and a journey of just an hour.
- ROPAX Vessel M2M -1 was built in Greece in September 2019. This Vessel has a speed of 14 knots and can carry 200 cars and 1000 passengers at a time. It is capable of operating even in a monsoon season.
- People will be able to travel in their cars directly on to the ROPAX vessel.
- The benefits of this service include reduction in the travel time, vehicular emission and traffic on the road.
Eastern Waterfront Development
- The Eastern Waterfront is the Mumbai Port Trust’s (MbPT’s) plan to develop the port lands across Mumbai’s eastern coast stretching from Sassoon Dock to Wadala.
- MbPT is an autonomous Body of the Government of India under the Ministry of Shipping.
- Some of the major proposals under the project include a 93- hectare park near Haji Bunder, around 17 hectares for tourism-related projects such as themed streets and affordable housing.
- The project also has a focus on a water transport by making a provision for water taxis, international and domestic cruises and ro-pax (roll on/roll off passengers) services.
