The Gujarat Maritime Board has said that owing to cyclonic storm Ockhi, the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry service operations have been suspended with immediate effect.

"Noticing the cyclonic movement towards Gujarat, as a safeguard measure, and for the safety of passengers travelling between Gogha and Dahej, the Gujarat Maritime Board has advised Indigo Seaways, the ferry operators, to suspend the ferry operations with immediate effect," a GMB statement said today.

"The situation will be reviewed on 5th December evening and if the conditions are found favourable, the services would be resumed from 6th December 2017," it added.

Cyclonic storm Ockhi storm laid centered over east central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and moved further north-northwestwards with a speed of 18 kmph. It is expected to cross South Gujarat near Surat as a deep depression by midnight of 5th December 2017.

Meanwhile, the administration has put two NDRF teams stationed each at Surat, Navsari and Rajkot. Also, the military forces, including the Army, Navy, IAF, BSF, have been alerted in Gujarat. The government has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also predicted.

The first phase of the Gogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry service launched on October 22, 2017, connects South Gujarat and Saurashtra, reducing the travel time from nine hours to one hour. To facilitate the service, two passenger terminals have been constructed, one at Dahej near Surat and second at Gogha near Bhavnagar.

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