Abandoned 50-passenger hovercraft at Belapur (Navi Mumbai)

India / Maharashtra / Panvel / Navi Mumbai
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These two British-made hovercraft named Triton-I and Triton-II, were owned and operated by Triton -- a 1996 joint-venture between the Mahindra Group, CIDCO, IL&FS and SICOM. Triton had only two craft. The one registered as VTZW was named Triton-I and VTZV was named Triton-II.

Services began in November 1996 using these two 1992 model Griffon 4000TD, 50-passenger twin diesel hovercraft.

They ferried 1,000 passengers a day, regularly on a 30-minute trip between Juhu and Chowpatty beach.

The government had guaranteed Triton that they would provide jetties and access roads on the beaches. However, even two years later, these facilities were non-existent. The government alloted Triton a plot of land to land the hovercraft at Free Press Journal Marg at Nariman Point. Trial runs, ran successfully. However, local fisherfolk obstructed the hovercraft by anchoring their boats in the path of the craft.
To add to that The BMC demolished Triton's booth at Nariman Point.

The service, originally intended to run between Nariman Point and Juhu beach was truncated to terminate at Chowpatty.

The last hovercraft plied between Chowpatty and Juhu beach in April 1998.
After a lengthy monsoon break, the service was killed off. It had made losses of Rs. 1.5 crore per year.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   19°0'51"N   73°2'33"E

Comments

  • Original text and photographs by B. J. Ram Rao [dob:1-Dec-1957]. Stored here for future reference. These two British-made hovercraft named Triton-I and Triton-II, were owned and operated by Triton -- a 1996 joint-venture between the Mahindra Group, CIDCO, IL&FS and SICOM. Triton had only two craft. The one registered as VTZW was named Triton-I and VTZV was named Triton-II. Services began in November 1996 using these two 1992 model Griffon 4000TD, 50-passenger twin diesel hovercraft. They ferried 1,000 passengers a day, regularly on a 30-minute trip between Juhu and Chowpatty beach. The government had guaranteed Triton that they would provide jetties and access roads on the beaches. However, even two years later, these facilities were non-existent. The government alloted Triton a plot of land to land the hovercraft at Free Press Journal Marg at Nariman Point. Trial runs, ran successfully. However, local fisherfolk obstructed the hovercraft by anchoring their boats in the path of the craft. To add to that The BMC demolished Triton's booth at Nariman Point. The service, originally intended to run between Nariman Point and Juhu beach was truncated to terminate at Chowpatty. The last hovercraft plied between Chowpatty and Juhu beach in April 1998. After a lengthy monsoon break, the service was killed off. It had made losses of Rs. 1.5 crore per year.
  • These hovercraft traveled only from Juhu to Chowpatty, while the service was alive. How did they happen to be abandoned at Belapur?
  • Is it for sale ?
  • barron111 at hotmail
  • Owned by CIDCO. Hence landed in Belapur! :)
  • is it allowed to enter to hovercraft to take photos?
  • I just is there any way cidco can sell this to coast guards or navy so instead of collecting dust it actually serve the country .... I hope somebody reads this and takes some initiative....
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 13 years ago