Mumbai: Maharashtra will soon get coastal economic development zones under the Centre’s Sagar Mala project, by dividing the State’s coastline into two: North Konkan which will include Mumbai, Thane and Raigad and South Konkan which will have Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
The decision was taken at the first State coordination committee meeting of the project, which aims to accelerate economic development by harnessing the potential of the country’s around 7,500-km coastline. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also reviewed other projects that are part of the said project.
The development zones focus on cruise tourism and developing passenger terminals for the Mumbai-Goa ferry service and constructing roads to connect to these terminals.
Apart from tourism, the economic zones are targeting developing ports in the Konkan area and the road connectivity to the market which is likely to help upcoming textile and refinery projects. Vadhwan port is part of the Sagarmala project.
Mr. Fadnavis on Monday also chaired a meeting to review implementation of the new port policy. Plans for development of ports and rail/road connectivity to ports were also discussed. A presentation on the expansion plan of JSW Jaigarh port, Karanja terminal, Yogayatan port, Katale shipyard, and RoRo services, was made, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
Works amounting to ₹43.75 crore have been sanctioned to start RoRo services by building jetties at Tavsal, Jaigad, Dabhol, Dhopave, Vesavi, Bagmandla, Agardanda and Dighi. Similar services between Narangi (Virar) and Kharvadeshwari (₹19.67crore), Bhayander and Vasai (₹20.89 crore), Marve and Manori (₹11.79 crore), ferry jetty at Mandava (₹135.58 crore), and passenger jetty at Malvan (₹10.23 crore) have also been approved.
Starting RoRo services between the ferry jetty in Mumbai and Dharamtar, and Karanja in Uran and Rewas in Alibaug, construction of 23 jetties and terminals, creating 46 navigation channels, and dredging for 35 passenger jetties are pending for approval.
