August 13, 2025: Maharashtra’s Minister for Fisheries and Ports, Nitesh Rane, has announced that the Mumbai–Dighi and Mumbai–Kashid Ro-Ro ferry services, designed to provide faster and smoother travel between Mumbai and the Konkan region, will be operational by the end of March.
Rane issued these directions during a meeting at the state secretariat, attended by Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Maharashtra Maritime Board CEO P. Pradeep, MLA Mahesh Baldi, and other officials. He emphasised that the Ro-Ro service would provide a “great alternative for travel from Mumbai to Konkan, saving significant time.”
To meet the deadline, Rane instructed officials to expedite jetty construction at both Dighi and Kashid. He also directed that proposals for required approvals be sent and sanctioned in parallel with the ongoing construction, ensuring all work concludes by the end of March.
In addition, MLA Mahesh Baldi raised the issue of diesel subsidies for fishing boats. Rane assured that “no eligible fishing vessel would be deprived of the diesel refund benefit” and urged fishing societies to present their boats for inspection by the fisheries department to resolve the matter satisfactorily.
Highlighting another key development, Rane directed that the Alibaug jetty construction be completed before Diwali, enhancing both passenger transport and fisheries infrastructure in the region.
Source: The Free Press Journal
