SURAT – The Hazira Ghogha Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry service, a popular commuting choice between Hazira in Surat to Ghogha in Bhavnagar, has announced a three-day shutdown commencing June 10th in anticipation of Cyclone Biparjoy. With the looming storm set to churn through the Arabian Sea, DG Connect Ropex Ferry Service has opted to suspend operations until June 12th as a precautionary measure, following directives from the State Meteorological Department.
Although current conditions at sea are deemed normal, Captain Devendra Manral, a representative of the ferry service, underscored the severity of the situation, saying, "According to our projections, the cyclone is expected to pass around 800 km away from Amroli-Pipavav, while Ghogha is even further away. Nevertheless, in the interest of passenger safety, we've decided to temporarily halt our operations."
The ferry service, Gujarat's first, has been an undeniable success since its inception. Despite this temporary disruption, officials have expressed readiness to resume operations as soon as the threat of the storm diminishes, pending governmental clearance.
For those who had already booked tickets during this period, the ferry service is offering two options: either an earlier date for their journey, or a full refund. The decision reflects their commitment to customer service even in times of crisis.
Interestingly, the announcement comes even as proposals for additional ferry services - from Magdalla to Victor and Pipavav within Surat - remain on hold, with no concrete action taken thus far. As the region braces for the upcoming cyclone, the question of when these services will be launched remains unanswered.
