BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has decided to launch Ro-Pax services under the Sagarmala programme in Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Khurda and Puri districts, to offer eco-friendly transport and reduce travel time in these areas.
The roll-on and roll-off vessels would provide a convenient mode of transportation in these districts as several passenger vehicles move through private boats without safety in areas separated by rivers. Passengers also face difficulty in embarking and disembarking from the boats.
Sources said the Ro-Pax services would be launched between Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapara district, and Balugaon in Khurda district and Krushnaprasadgada in Puri district. Two jetties are under construction at a cost of Rs 164 crore, including 50 per cent contribution from the state government.
The Commerce and Transport department has sought proposals from agencies manufacturing roll-on and roll-off vessels for operationalisation of the jetties. Although tenders were floated earlier for such services between Kaninali and Talachua stretch, sources said the government did not find any suitable supplier.
“The government wants to procure state-of-the-art Ro-Pax vessels on a turnkey basis for both the stretches. The agency selected for the purpose must ensure end-to-end execution including preparation of drawings and designs, fabrication/construction and commissioning of the service,” said an official.
As per the criteria set by the department, the vessels must be of 26 metre in length, 8.5 metre wide and 1.8 metre deep with a carrying capacity of 55 tonne and speed of eight to 10 knots. Since these vessels are designed to accommodate both passengers and vehicles, it will directly benefit local communities, traders and tourists, ensuring reliability and safety in comparison to the existing country boat journeys.
Once introduced, these ferries would reduce logistics costs, improve trade efficiency and provide a sustainable alternative to road transport. The service will also boost coastal tourism by making remote destinations more accessible and promoting eco-friendly travel options.
“The ease of access will attract more domestic and religious tourists, benefitting local economies. The Dhamara-Talachua Ro-Pax service will cut down over 100 km of road travel to just seven km by river and offer a cost-effective mode of communication,” said the official.