Mumbai: Fishermen operating wooden passenger boats from the Gateway of India are being urged to replace these boats with fibre ones, said fisheries minister Nitesh Rane in the legislative council on Monday.
Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour, Rane mentioned there was a meeting with the fishermen to discuss switching to fibre boats, as they are easier to navigate and would allow for more trips. This meeting took place after the passenger boat Neel Kamal sank off the Mumbai coast when it was hit by a naval speedboat.
Rane stated an FIR was registered, and the police are inquiring into the accident. Simultaneously, the port authority has also appointed an investigation, as has the navy.
The govt will assist in obtaining loans for purchasing the new boats, he said.