``The scheme is initially targetted at getting motor cars off the roads and give those commuters an option of travelling comfortably by the sea route,'' Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) Chief Executive Officer Vishwas Dhumal told Express Newsline

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Sites for building the terminals have already been identified at Nariman Point, Haji Ali, Bandra, Versova, Juhu, Versova, Manori Creek and the Gateway of India. These sites were identified by a committee comprising Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), Traffic Police, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation(MTDC) and MMB officials.

The lack of jetty or water transport terminals has been the major reason why hovercraft operations on the west coast have flopped. West coast hovercraft operator Triton Overwater, has even suspended operations in the last seven months and has warned of a shutdown due to the absence of basic infrastructure.

The water transport terminals will be constructed by private parties under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) scheme and will revert to the state government after 30 years.

In July this year, the MMB called for bids. Technical bids received from five parties, Triton, SKS, Maldar, Satyagiri and Four Seasons, were opened in September.

The technical parameters of the bids were later evaluated by a nationwide panel of experts from the Inland Water Authority, National Ship Research Design Centre (NSRDC) and the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT). The panel submitted its report to the MMB this month. Finalisation of the financial bids for the project will be done within a month's time,MMB officials said.

The MMB is now awaiting a clarification from the state government on the terms of the financial agreement and lease rent. The board has already prepared a cabinet note outlining the proposal.

``We will be setting up a single-window clearance for quick clearance of jetty construction,'' Dhumal said.

As the cost of construction, which is yet to be finalised, will never be recovered by user-charges, the board has suggested building passengers amenities like cafetarias and offices along the lines of those found in railway stations.

Permission for setting up these facilities and connecting roads will have to come with approval from the BMC.

However, one of the major hurdles is yet to be resolved. Fishermen have objected to hovercraft operations on the grounds that it interferes with their fishing activity. It is now up to the government to demarcate specific navigation channels so that both fishing craft and hovercraft can ply unhindered.

Yet another hurdle is the weather. Watertransport operations are usually suspended during the monsoons for around four months a year. MMB officials admit that for this alternative form of transport to really take off, some kind of arrangement like the use of all-weather craft will have to be made to ply during the monsoons.