Mumbai: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to conserve fuel, Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane held a meeting on Tuesday with Mumbai Bank Chairman and MLC Praveen Darekar to discuss converting diesel-powered boats operating near the Gateway of India into electric boats. The plan will be implemented in a phased manner, with financial assistance and a special loan scheme provided to boat owners.
Current Situation and Need for Change
Currently, 97 licensed wooden boats operate in the Gateway area, all running on diesel. Boat owners spend approximately Rs 1 lakh per month on fuel. Rane emphasized the need for a special scheme to convert passenger and fishing boats into electric ones, promoting eco-friendly tourism and reducing expenses for boat owners.
Cost and Loan Scheme
Electric boats cost between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 6 crore. Rane urged Mumbai Bank to prepare a separate policy offering special loan schemes at low interest rates for fisheries organizations, private boat owners, individual beneficiaries, and associations. He also noted that individuals could join cooperative societies or establish independent organizations to more easily access government schemes and subsidies.
Initial Phase and Pilot Project
In the initial phase, priority will be given to 25 beneficiaries. The first five of them should receive electric boats on a pilot basis. Darekar instructed officials to prepare a special policy for electric boats and submit it for approval at the upcoming board meeting.
This initiative aims to promote environmental conservation, fuel saving, and water navigation while modernizing the Koli brothers, who are originally from Mumbai. Officials stated that this project will be important for Mumbai's future.
