Maharashtra Maritime Board partners Norwegian firm for Mumbai Water Metro initiative.

Devendra Fadnavis recently said the proposed Mumbai Water Metro project will usher in a new era of modern and sustainable water transport in India by introducing ferry services aimed at easing traffic congestion in Mumbai and adjoining areas.

The Chief Minister said the Maharashtra government is committed to building an environmentally friendly and sustainable water transport network to meet the growing mobility needs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). He added that the state has been working on the concept of sustainable water transport for the past decade and has prepared a comprehensive infrastructure plan for Mumbai.

Fadnavis was speaking after the Maharashtra Maritime Board signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norway-based maritime technology firm Hyke AS for the implementation of the Mumbai Water Metro project.

According to an official release, the agreement aims to facilitate the supply of advanced vessels for the project and explore the possibility of establishing shipbuilding facilities in Maharashtra.

“Effective utilisation of waterways in a metropolitan city like Mumbai will help reduce pressure on existing transport systems. Demand for sustainable water transport is expected to grow rapidly across the country in the coming years,” Fadnavis said.

The project seeks to reduce congestion on road and rail networks by leveraging coastal and creek routes across the MMR. The Chief Minister said the Mumbai model could serve as a template for other Indian cities looking to develop sustainable urban transport systems.

Nitesh Rane said the project marks a major step in Maharashtra’s maritime development and that collaboration with an international company such as Hyke would boost port development, shipbuilding and maritime skill development in the state.

The release added that a detailed project report (DPR) for the Water Metro project in the MMR has been prepared through Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.

The DPR proposes upgrading 24 terminals across 21 existing water transport routes and constructing 21 terminals on 10 new routes in the MMR.

Hyke, which specialises in modern vessels designed for urban water transport, has also expressed interest in setting up shipbuilding facilities in Maharashtra, the release said.