Gateway of India boats to go electric in phased shift

Mumbai: Responding to PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel, Fisheries and Ports minister Nitesh Rane on Tuesday held a meeting with Mumbai Bank Chairman, MLC Praveen Darekar, to convert diesel-powered boats that ply near the Gateway of India into electric boats in a phased manner and provide financial assistance and a special loan scheme to the boat owners for this purpose.“Currently, 97 licensed wooden boats are operating in the Gateway area, and since these boats run on diesel, boat owners have to spend about Rs 1 lakh on fuel every month. There is a need to implement a special scheme to convert passenger and fishing boats into electric boats with the aim of promoting eco-friendly tourism and reducing the expenses of boat owners,” said Rane.“Since the cost of electric boats is approximately Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 6 crore, Mumbai Bank should prepare a separate policy to provide special loan schemes at low interest rates for fisheries organisations, private boat owners, individual beneficiaries and associations,” said Rane.Rane also mentioned that it would be easier for individuals to become members of cooperative societies or establish independent organisations, making it easier to take advantage of various govt schemes and subsidies.In the initial phase of this initiative, priority will be given to 25 beneficiaries, and the first 5 of them should be provided with electric boats on a pilot basis, and Mumbai Bank should prepare a special policy for electric boats and submit it for approval in the upcoming board meeting, Darekar instructed officials.This initiative, which promotes environmental conservation, fuel saving and water navigation while modernising the Koli brothers, who are originally from Mumbai, will be important for Mumbai, officials said.