Mangalore : In a major boost to coastal connectivity and urban transport system, the Karnataka Maritime Board has proposed a special coastal passenger ferry service from Mangaluru to Maravanthe in Udupi district.
This major corridor, which stretches for about 110 km up to Maravanthe in Kundapur taluk, is being developed as an alternative transport option to the ever-congested National Highway 66. According to reports, this ferry service will have five major stations including Old Mangalore Port, Hejamady, Malpe, Koti and Maravanthe.
The project will cost an estimated Rs 37.8 crore and will be implemented on a public-private partnership model. The selected firm will be given a 20-year lease. Special jetties are planned to be built for ferry berths at these five places, including Maravanthe, Maritime Board officials informed about this at the ‘Karavali Karnataka Tourism Conference’ organized by the State Tourism Department.
In Mangalore, in addition to the Rs. 180 crore coastal water metro service, KMB has planned to implement a ‘Water Metro Project’ around Mangalore city at a cost of Rs. 180 crore. This water metro corridor will connect the old Mangalore port and Jeppinamogaru bridge from the Maravoor bridge near the Mangalore International Airport via the Gurupura and Netravati rivers.
The aim of this project is to develop a smooth ‘multimodal’ transport system by integrating the Bhakri service with city buses and other public transport.
The presence of Gurupura and Netravati rivers gives great potential for a PPP-based water metro in Mangalore. This will not only reduce pressure on roads but also provide a cost-effective and sustainable transport solution, officials said