India, Aug. 31 -- The port department led by BJP minister Nitesh Rane is planning to launch transport services between Versova on the city's western coastline and Mandwa in Alibaug in a bid to raise its own revenue.

Announcing the plans on Sunday, Rane said that many film stars and billionaires living in the western suburbs between Bandra and Andheri had their second homes in Alibag. "Besides, many people visit Alibag on weekends. As of now, they all have to travel to south Mumbai to take a ferry or private speedboat to Mandwa to reach Alibag. The Versova-Mandwa water transport service will be a big boon for them," Rane said.

The port department had recently, through the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), renovated the Versova jetty at a...