Gateway ferry operators need govt support to modernise fleet, reduce operational costs: Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari President

In my 50 years of experience with the boat operating association, I have never witnessed such a disaster, says Sardar Mirza Jamaluddin Mahadkar referring to the speedboat collision that killed 15 including one minor.

Sardar Mirza Jamaluddin Mahadkar, president of the Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha (Express)

4 min readMumbaiDec 23, 2024 11:01 AM IST First published on: Dec 22, 2024 at 10:40 PM IST

Pointing out the challenges and demands of ferry service operators at the Gateway of India, Sardar Mirza Jamaluddin Mahadkar, president of the Gateway Elephanta Jal Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha (Boat Operating Association), discusses with Sweety Adimulam the need for government support in the form of interest-free loans to modernise their fleet and fuel subsidy to reduce operational costs. He also highlights their concerns about risks posed by speedboats to ferry boats at the Gateway of India harbour.

Excerpts:

What are your thoughts on the recent accident caused by the collision of a speedboat with a wooden ferry?

In my 50 years of experience with the boat operating association, I have never witnessed such a disaster. The quick response from everyone — fishermen, the navy personnel and others — helped save lives. Sadly, 15 lives were lost, which is heartbreaking.

The accident occurred because a speedboat collided with the passenger ferry. Wooden boats are vulnerable in such situations. This has made us realise the urgent need for modernising our fleet. We have been seeking government assistance to purchase modern vessels such as catamarans, which are safer but expensive. The association’s shareholders are pooling resources to acquire these vessels through loans.

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However, we are urging the government to provide interest-free loans, given that water route ticket prices are relatively low and do not generate enough revenue to cover such high costs.

What safety measures are being implemented, especially regarding wooden boat safety?

The boat involved in the accident was equipped with life jackets and rafts, as per safety norms. However, a recurring issue is that passengers often choose not to wear the life jackets provided. To address this, wearing life jackets has now been made 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 life jackets. With over 100 passenger ferry boats in operation, upgrading the system across the fleet will take some time. However, we are committed to rolling out these safety messages by next year to enhance awareness and compliance.

What makes it challenging to upgrade all boats to modern vessels?

Modern boats such as catamarans are extremely expensive, costing crores of rupees. The current roundtrip ticket is Rs 190 for Elephanta and Rs 170 for Mandwa. Recovering the cost of a modern boat through such fares takes a significantly long time. Additionally, the revenue generated from trips is shared among the members of the Jal Vahatuk Association.

If one boat carries 30 passengers and another 50 passengers, the total earnings from that trip are distributed, making it harder for individual operators to invest in costly upgrades.

We have also been requesting diesel subsidies from the government for a long time. Such support would significantly reduce operational costs and make the transition to modern vessels more feasible.

Has the association raised concerns about the growing congestion at the Gateway of India?

We have raised it multiple times with the authorities, particularly regarding the issuance of new licences. The space at the Gateway of India is limited, which is a significant constraint. Additionally, many speedboats registered for private use are being operated commercially, with fares around Rs 500 per ride. We have questioned how these operators set their fares, as ferry boat operators are subject to a government-imposed rate chart, but there is no such regulation for speedboats.

Another concern is that speedboats operate from Jetty No. 4 at the 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. While daily commuters may be accustomed to this, it poses a greater risk to tourists and first-time travellers.

In fact, before the accident at Gateway of India, we had written to the authorities over the speedboat issue. Now they have given an assurance to look into it on priority.