Overview

• The state announced a Mumbai Bhaucha Dhakka link to Jaigad (Ratnagiri) and Vijaydurg (Sindhudurg), targeting a Sept. 1 commercial start subject to sea conditions.
• About 147–150 approvals have been secured from the Union Shipping Ministry, DG Shipping, IRS, the Maharashtra Maritime Board, and the Mumbai Port Authority.
• Operated by the M2M Princess and billed as South Asia’s fastest Ro-Ro at 25 knots, the service aims to cut trips to roughly 3–3.5 hours for Jaigad and 5–5.5 hours for Vijaydurg.
• Capacity includes 656 seats across four classes and space for around 50 cars and 30 two-wheelers, with passenger fares from ₹2,500–₹9,000 and vehicle tariffs of ₹6,000 (cars), ₹1,000 (two-wheelers) and ₹600 (bicycles).
• Authorities plan brief test runs this week and may shift the inaugural date by a day if seas remain rough, with future expansion proposed to Shrivardhan and Mandwa plus bus links from jetties.