Mumbai to get bus that runs over water





Union road trans port and ship ping minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port will get the first bus that can run on water surface, a move that will push more tourism in ports.

Only few days back he had talked of floating hotels, a ferris wheel and marinas and jetties to promote intra-city water transport in Mumbai. Sources said that there are a few international spots where such buses ply on water only for a short distance and is a major tourist attraction. "The feasibility of this project will be studied. Usually , such services are offered by private players. We can facilitate for such a project," said a shipping ministry official. He admitted that the matter recently came up for discussion. JNPT officials were not available for any comment on this.

Interacting with industry leaders Gadkari said his ministry will push for more seaplane service to promote tourism. "To give a fillip to this initiative we are proposing to set up a sea port authority which will have representatives from aviation and shipping ministry ," the minister said. Sources said Gadkari also discussed these projects in his interaction with BJP MPs from half a dozen states including Maharashtra.