Navigating Gujarat’s Ro-Pax Ferry Service: A Gateway to Enhanced Connectivity

What is Gujarat’s Ro-Pax Ferry Service?

Gujarat’s Ro-Pax (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger) ferry service connects Ghogha in Bhavnagar district with Hazira in Surat district across the Gulf of Khambhat. This innovative service enables the simultaneous transportation of vehicles and passengers using specially designed ships. Launched in 2017 under the Centre’s Sagarmala initiative, the primary aim of this service is to reduce road travel and enhance connectivity in coastal Gujarat.

Benefits of the Ro-Pax Ferry Service

• Reduces travel distance by approximately 400 km between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.
• Saves time and fuel compared to traditional road transport.
• Enhances regional connectivity and supports multimodal logistics.
• Efficiently transports both passengers (12.59 lakh) and vehicles (4.5 lakh).
• Promotes tourism and trade by linking remote areas with urban centers.
• Alleviates road congestion and reduces pollution through the use of alternative transport.

Challenges Faced by the Project

Despite its potential, the Ro-Pax ferry service encounters several significant challenges:

• The service has incurred substantial financial losses amounting to ₹325 crore.
• Operating costs of ferry terminals are not reimbursed to the private operator.
• Unsecured loans worth ₹242 crore remain unpaid.
• Additional vessels procured for other routes have had to remain idle due to failed approvals.
• The ferry service competes with subsidized road and rail transport, making it less appealing.
• Ticket prices are kept low to attract users, covering only half of the actual operational costs.
• The operator is now seeking government support through a viability gap funding mechanism.

Conclusion

As the saying goes, “Those who dream of changing society must first endure the storms that resist the change.” The Ro-Pax ferry service represents a bold step in transforming transportation in Gujarat, but its success depends on overcoming the financial and operational hurdles it currently faces.