Water Metro Service in Mumbai Metropolitan Area by 2028: Nitesh Rane

Minister for Ports and Fisheries Nitesh Rane in conversation with Vinaya Deshpande during the Hindu Maharashtra Infrastructure 2026 conclave at the Taj President in Mumbai on May 22, 2026. | Photo credit: Emmanual Yogini

Residents of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will be able to avail water metro services between Nariman Point, Versova and Bandra by 2028, said Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane.

Mr. Rane outlined the progress made in the maritime sector in the state while speaking at the Hindu ‘Maharashtra 2026 Infrastructure Conclave’.

“Currently, we are in the finalization stage, detailed project report (DPR) on water metro has been submitted and MoUs have been signed, land selection process is underway,” Mr. Rane said, adding that Navi Mumbai airport connectivity is also part of the plan.

As part of the MMR water metro services, six to eight routes with 21 to 22 metro stations have been identified. “We took inspiration from the water transport models of Sweden and the Netherlands and prepared a road map to connect Mumbai and the MMR region,” added Mr. Rane. The government is trying to operate 250 electric boats on the water metro network, he further said.

The Water Metro initiative aims to transform inland waterways in urban areas into a modern mode of public transport.

Shipbuilding industry

Mr. Rane highlighted the potential of the maritime sector in the state to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s $5 trillion economic dream, saying, “The sea route has shifted from Europe to the Asian side. China, South Korea and Japan are leading and we as a country are at 0.1%. So we have to go from there and develop the ship and ship building industry.”

“We are talking to many operators. One such company is Candela. Their electric boat, which has a capacity of 30 passengers, is already arriving on the 25th of May, and we will start trial operation in the first week of June. We are talking to various companies in Norway who are ready to provide us with 100 and 30 passengers of their boats converted to electric boats, as well as diesel boats, closer to traditional boats. It will help with funding,” added Mr. Rane.

port of Vadhvan

Terming Vadhvan Port as a game-changing project, Mr. Rane said, “We are offering skill development courses to people. The aim of the port is to offer jobs and we want local people to come and take up these opportunities.”

Talking about the problems at Sasoon Dockyard in south Mumbai, he said, “We have spoken to Finland to solve our problems. We are there to help the fishing communities; it is a communication gap. We have the Mukhyamantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, a fisheries development programme. The budget has been increased from over ₹200 crore to ₹1,000 crore,” said Mr.

Published – 22 May 2026 23:32 IST