The Maharashtra government is set to revive Vijaydurg’s maritime legacy with the launch of a roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry service in early September. This marks the return of passenger boat operations at the historic port in Sindhudurg after more than four decades, cutting travel time between Mumbai and Konkan to just five and a half hours.

The new Ro-Ro ferry, equipped to carry both passengers and vehicles, will operate on the Mumbai–Ratnagiri–Sindhudurg route under South Asia’s fastest Ro-Ro service initiative. The maiden journey will commence from Bhaucha Dhakka in Mumbai on September 1, with scheduled halts at Jaigad (Ratnagiri) and Vijaydurg (Sindhudurg).

Infrastructure preparations at Vijaydurg are nearing completion, including the installation of a floating jetty and pontoon. For the first time, a passenger vessel will directly berth at the port, ending a 40-year hiatus since services by Konkan Shakti and Konkan Sevak were discontinued in 1983.

Local leaders and residents welcomed the development, anticipating significant benefits for tourism, trade, and regional connectivity. “The ferry service will not only reconnect Mumbai and Vijaydurg but also boost local industries such as mango exports while reviving the area’s maritime tradition,” said Vijaydurg village sarpanch Riyaz Qazi.

The initiative is also expected to enhance tourism around the historic Vijaydurg Fort, once the naval headquarters of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and create new livelihood opportunities for local communities.

News source: The Week