CM Sarbananda Sonowal flags off Ro-Ro vessel named after Bhupen Hazarika in Majuli

Guwahati: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday flagged off a new Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel named MV Bhupen Hazarika in Majuli. This Ro-Ro vessel would connect Kamalabari in Majuli River Island with Neemati Ghat in Jorhat district.

This new Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service has been launched in collaboration with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Government of Assam. IWAI had spent around 9.46 crore for the vessel.

It is also expected that the vessel will provide a safe and fast connectivity from world’s largest river-island Majuli.

It is to be noted that the Ro-Ro service will cut down the travel time on circuitous road route of 421 km that trucks take from Neemati to Majuli Island via Tezpur Road Bridge by limiting the distance to only 12.7 km across the river route.

The vessel which is 46.50 meter long and 13.30 meter wide has the carrying capacity of eight loaded trucks and 100 passengers besides 25 small vehicles. The vessel has one main engine apart from two other supporting engines. MV Bhupen Hazarika can sail at the speed of 22 km per hour.

Addressing the people today, Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “This is going to further boost transportation in Majuli, particularly in goods movement. This will benefit both general people and business activity in the island.”

Also, in a press statement, IWAI stated that the trucks carrying goods from Jorhat to Majuli now take the 423km road route via Tezpur and then the goods are sent in small ferries. But now the entire truck will be loaded in the new vessel at Nemati in Jorhat and transported to Majuli.

“The commencement of Ro-Ro services to Majuli Island would be a landmark event towards augmenting connectivity. Since there is no bridge connecting Majuli, people residing on either side of the river need to cross the river using conventional ferry service at various locations for their day to day needs. In the absence of a bridge, cargo and passenger movement through the longer road routes lead to critical loss of time and money,” said the statement further.