Ferry Service: MV Bhupen Hazarika To Reduce Travel Time Between Puri & Ganjam In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Travelling the economic way is now possible!  The Odisha government has signed an MoU with the Inland Waterway Authority of India (IWAI) for operation and management of Ro-Ro (Roll-on Roll-off) vessel MV Bhupen Hazarika from Satapada to Janhikuda in Puri district.

It is aimed at making transport more convenient for the people living in the areas surrounding the Chilika lagoon.

Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera informed that the Chilika Development Authority is currently providing vessel services between Satapada and Janhikuda to transport local people and their vehicles. The ferry service has been continuing for the last three and a half years.

“The RoRo vessel service has been introduced keeping in mind the importance of this arterial route. With this, the distance and travel time between Puri and Ganjam districts will reduce significantly,” he said.

The vessel has the capacity to carry eight buses/trucks and 100 passengers, he added.

It will help in easy shipping of wheeled cargo such as cars, trucks and trailers driven on and off the ferry on their own wheels or with the help of a platform vehicle.

The MoU was signed by IWAI Chief Engineer SVK Reddy and Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport Padma Lochan Raul at Kharvel Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Monday afternoon.