Mumbai: The many awaited water taxi service for the purpose of Navi Mumbai from the Domestic Cruise Terminal (DCT) at Ferry Wharf in Mumbai will be marked in the bellapur on February 17 in front of the Minister of Shipping Sarbanou Sonowal.
Water taxi service, which was abandoned in three decades ago, is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai almost 45 minutes to one hour.
Initially, the service to the belipur through JNPT and the bellapur through Elephanta will start from DCT.
Newer routes will be introduced as and when commuting responds well and infrastructure is strengthened, said source.
Two operators from four will generally start services and will use fast ships and catamarans for mass transportation.
Operators say tentative rates will be respectively RS 800 and RS 550 for the DCT-Laktur and DCT-JNPT routes.
The monthly pass to the bellapur will cost around Rs 12,000.
This project was revived as part of Inlandways Inland Center in Inlandways.
Mumbai Port Trust, Maharashtra Maritime Board and CidCo together execute it.
The route will eventually be extended to Nerul, Vashi, Airoli, Mandwa, Karanja, Rewas, Dharamtar, Thane and Kanhoji Angre Island, among others.