Amphibious bus service to be flagged off in Mumbai

Two such vehicles, sourced from Portugal for `2 crore each, would be launched next month.

After Goa, Mumbai, too, will have its own amphibious bus service soon, with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) launching two such vehicles next month. The buses, which will be sourced from a Portuguese supplier at a cost of `2 crore each, are capable of cruising in seawaters off Mumbai’s coast and plying on the city’s streets as well.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was earlier signed between JNPT and the Mumbai Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to conduct an amphibious bus service in the city. An amphibious vehicle is a means of transport viable on land as well as on, or under, water.

Talking about a recent decision taken by the director of the MTDC, Satish Soni, its joint managing director, told The Asian Age, “JNPT has purchased the vehicle from Portugal and has awarded the contract to run the vehicle to MTDC. The ownership of the vehicle will remain with only JNPT.”

The vehicle will be handed over to MTDC next month as it is yet to be delivered to India. The corporation has not yet decided on the exact route for the buses and the spots they would halt at. “We are planning to fix the route that the bus would take. We will initially need to construct a ramp and a jetty to ensure that the vehicle can enter the sea and return to land smoothly from the water,” Mr Soni said.

He added: “We have zeroed in on Girgaum Chowpatty as the base for the vehicle. We will need at least `3 crore for the construction of the jetty and the ramp.”

Though the route of the vehicle is yet to be finalised, another officer from the state’s tourism ministry said the bus would visit the Gateway of India and Elephanta caves via the sea and would go to Hanging Garden, Mahalaxmi temple, Haji Ali Dargah and other religious and tourist spots in the city via road.

Meanwhile, Mr Soni claimed that Goa is not the first city to have launched the amphibious vehicle. Amby Valley, owned by the Sahara Group and located in Lonavala near Pune, had introduced such a vehicle for the first time in the state.

“That vehicle is still in service and Mumbai will be the second city in the state that would attract tourists through the amphibious bus service. The fare for the rides on this vehicle will be decided later on,” Mr Soni said.