Pointing out the challenges and demands of ferry service operators at the Gateway of India, Sardar Mirza Jamaluddin MahadkarDiscussion with Chairman of Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahtuk Cooperative Society (Boat Operators Association). Sweety Adimulam They need government support in the form of interest-free loans in the form of fuel subsidies to modernize their ships and reduce operating costs. He also highlights their concern about the risks posed by speedboats to boats at Gateway of India ports.
What do you think about the recent accident where a speedboat collided with a wooden boat?
In my 50 years of experience with boat operators’ associations, I have never seen such a disaster. Quick response from everyone – fishermen, naval personnel and others – helped save lives. Sadly, 15 people lost their lives, which is heartbreaking.
The The accident occurred when a speedboat carrying passengers collided. Wooden boats are weak in such conditions. This has made us realize the urgent need to modernize our fleet. We are looking for government support to buy modern vessels like catamarans which are safe but expensive. Shareholders of the association are pooling resources to acquire these vessels through loans.
However, since the price of waterway tickets is relatively low and there is not enough revenue to cover such high costs, we are requesting the government to provide interest-free loans.
What safety measures are being implemented, particularly with regard to wooden boat safety?
The boat involved in the accident was equipped with life jackets and rafts as per safety standards. However, a recurring problem is that passengers often choose not to wear the provided life jackets. To address this, the wearing of life jackets is now mandatory, and we are actively ensuring compliance.
Additionally, we are introducing audio and video safety announcements on board to educate passengers about the importance of wearing a life jacket. With more than 100 passenger ferries in operation, it will take some time to upgrade the system across the fleet. However, we are committed to rolling out these safety messages over the next year to increase awareness and compliance.
What makes it challenging to upgrade all the boats to modern vessels?
Modern boats like catamarans are very expensive, costing hundreds of millions of rupees. The current roundtrip ticket is Rs 190 for Elephanta and Rs 170 for Mandwa. It takes a very long time to recover the cost of a modern boat through such rent. In addition, the revenue generated from the voyages is shared among the members of the Water Transport Association.
If one boat carries 30 passengers and the other 50 passengers, the total revenue for that trip is shared, making it difficult for individual operators to invest in expensive upgrades.
We have been asking the government for subsidy on diesel for a long time. Such support will significantly reduce operating costs and make the transition to modern vessels more feasible.
Has the Union raised concerns about the growing congestion at the Gateway of India?
We have raised this time and again with the authorities, especially regarding the issuance of new licences. Space is limited at Gateway of India, which is a significant constraint. Besides, many speedboats registered for private use are being operated commercially, with a fare of around Rs 500 per ride. We have questioned how these operators set fares as ferry operators are subject to government-mandated rate charts, but there is no such rule for speedboats.
Another concern is that speedboats operate from Jetty No. 4 at Gateway of India and frequently pass through areas used by passenger ferries. The high speed of these boats creates turbulence, affecting the stability of other vessels. Although daily commuters are used to it, it poses a major risk to tourists and first-time travelers.
In fact, before the accident at Gateway of India, we had written to the authorities on the speedboat issue. Now he has promised to look at it on the basis of priority.
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