Ferry Service From Tamil Nadu To Sri Lanka To Start From Tomorrow
Distance between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka now gets closer, as the passenger ferry service from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka is set to begin on Saturday.
According to a representative of the Nagapattinam Shipping Harbour Department, the ticket fee for going to Sri Lanka was earlier fixed at Rs 7670 per person (Rs 6500 + 18 per cent GST). As per the media reports, the officials of the Nagapattinam Shipping Harbour Department said on Thursday that they have fixed a fee of Rs 2800 (Rs 2375 + 18 per cent tax) as an inaugural offer for passengers who are travelling on the ferry on 14 October (one day). The fare is 75 per cent off the current price.
According to the spokesperson, 30 passengers have already booked the trip at this special price. After a 40-year hiatus, the passenger transportation ship was set to depart on 10 October, but was delayed until 12 October due to an administrative issue. It was postponed again until 14 October.
The trial run for the ferry was completed on 8 October during which the officials examined and ensured the comfort and safety of the passengers travelling by sea. Regular service on the 111-km stretch will be covered in three hours.
The India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee met virtually on 14 July this year to discuss increasing connectivity and resuming ferry services between the two countries, according to a news release issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee was established under the MOU on Passenger Transportation by Sea.
The successful discussions focused on the reintroduction of ferry services between the two countries linking mutually agreed-upon sites. According to the announcement, both parties agreed that resuming boat services will improve regional trade and tourism while also strengthening people-to-people ties.
