Synergizing economics with ecology, Honda 2Wheelers India is now India’s first automobile company to adopt the newly inaugurated Ro-Pax ferry service connecting Hazira (Surat) and Ghogha (Bhavnagar) in the Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat), in collaboration with Indigo Seaways Pvt. Ltd.
Soon after the new route was inaugurated by Hon’ble PM Modi on 8th November, Honda dispatched its first two-wheeler consignment using the Hazira-Ghogha Ro-Pax ferry service from its Narsapura plant in Karnataka to Veraval (near Somnath) in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
Utilising this new & efficient logistics way, the delivery time and distance for Honda’s new two-wheelers reaching the Saurashtra region from the south factory have significantly reduced. Compared with the earlier full road route, the transit time reduced by 2 days (from 7 days to 5 days) and distance by 465 km respectively.
The Hazira-Ghogha Ro-Pax ferry service is not only faster and more cost-efficient; but also, environmentally friendly. With this new route, Honda is reducing its carbon emissions by approximately 311 kg/trip!
Commenting on the rationale of being the first adopter of new Hazira – Ghogha Ro-Pax service,
Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “At Honda, we believe we have a responsibility to apply our innovations, technologies & initiatives to improve the lives of the people while minimizing the environmental impacts of our products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future for society. Utilizing the newly inaugurated inland waterways as the 1st Auto company to ship its consignments, we have been able to significantly reduce the transit time and serve our customers with increased efficiency across 11 cities of the Saurashtra region in Gujarat. At the same time, as an ecologically superior means of transport, the Ro-Pax service is reducing our carbon footprint significantly. Honda aims to continuously deliver its shipments from Bangalore plant to Saurashtra region utilizing Ro-Pax ferry service. We also thank Indigo Seaways Pvt. Ltd for their support in this new initiative”
Sharing his thoughts on the advantages of Hazira – Ghogha Ro-Pax service, Capt. D K Manral, CEO Indigo Seaways Pvt. Ltd. (DG SEA CONNECT) said, “Globally, RoPax Services are most popular in advanced countries and continents which have a vast and large number of oceans and inland waterways. Primarily these ferries either cut short the distance through Sea route or divert the traffic from over-congested highways to underutilized seaways.
Since Independence India has been wanting to enter this advanced maritime logistic field and the present Govt. moved into the specialized route on 8th Nov’2020 with the launch of “GHOGHA – HAZIRA ROPAX SERVICES” across the Gulf of Khambhat.
This ferry is the “GATEWAY TO SOUTH GUJARAT & SAURASHTRA REGION” and has eliminated the road distance between Ghogha and Hazira to 1/4th and the present transit time of 10 to 12 hours to a mere 4 hours. More importantly, it would reduce CO2 emission by 24 Tons/day and 8653 Tons/ annually. The Greenhouse gases thus saved would have a substantial positive impact on climatic change.
We appreciate the proactive approach of Honda 2Wheelers India. They were in regular connect with ISPL RoRo Operator & were keen to explore the logistical advantages for their market and customers in Saurashtra and North Gujarat. ISPL is thankful to Honda and its proactive management for being the first Indian automobile to use Ro-Pax services across the Gulf of Khambhat.”
Honda 2Wheelers paved the way to Saurashtra through waterways in 2018
Earlier also in 2018, Honda 2Wheelers India was the first two-wheeler company to adopt inland waterways transport with Ro-Pax Dahej – Ghogha ferry service in Gujarat. The wonder route brought new speed, cost-saving and ecological benefits for all Honda shipments from its southern plant in Karnataka to the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Between 2018 and 2020, Honda had successfully dispatched 19,200 units through the earlier Dahej – Ghogha ferry, resulting in 1-day time saving per shipment, approximately 4% freight cost reduction and a significant 101,304 kg carbon emissions reduction!
Buoyed by the success of the earlier ferry route, Honda 2Wheelers India is once again the First in Indian Automobile industry to use the newly inaugurated Hazira- GhoghaRo-Pax services in the Saurashtra region.