Vasai-Bhayandar Ro-Ro service will operate additional trips during the Velankanni festival period to help devotees travelling to the Velankanni Church in Uttan, according to a report by Loksatta. Suvarnadurga Shipping and Marine Services has increased the regular schedule from the Vasai and Bhayandar jetties.
The operator will add two trips each in the morning and evening sessions. The additional service is intended to support passengers travelling between Vasai and Bhayandar during the festival, which is being observed from August 29 to September 8 this year.
The Velankanni festival is associated with the Our Lady of Good Health Church near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Large numbers of Christian devotees from Mumbai, Thane and Vasai-Virar travel to Tamil Nadu during the festival. The occasion is also observed in Christian-majority areas such as Uttan, where devotees visit the Velankanni Church in the Bhatebandar area.
Residents travelling from Vasai and Vasai-Virar to Uttan and Bhayandar otherwise have to take a longer route via the national highway because there is no direct road connection between Vasai and Bhayandar. Traffic congestion on the highway has led some passengers to choose the water route instead.
According to the published schedule, the morning services will depart from Vasai Fort for Bhayandar at 6:30 a.m., followed by a return trip from Bhayandar to Vasai at 7 a.m. The evening services will leave Vasai Fort at 9:45 p.m. and Bhayandar at 10:30 p.m.
Passengers seeking information about the additional Ro-Ro trips or ticket reservations can contact the Vasai centre at 8624063900 or the Bhayandar centre at 8600314710. The additional services will be available during the festival period, the report said.
