Passenger Ferry Service Between Nagapattinam and Sri Lanka to Resume on August 16

World

The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India, and Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, is set to resume operations from August 16, following the receipt of all necessary clearances by the operator.

According to Indian media outlet DT Next, IndSri Ferry Service Private Ltd announced that the ferry service will use the vessel named ‘Sivagangai.’ Online bookings for passengers will open at midnight on August 12, ahead of the service's official restart.

Originally planned to operate between Karaikal and Kankesanthurai, the route has been shifted to Nagapattinam. This change was necessitated by the Karaikal port's focus on coal shipments, which raised concerns about its capacity to handle passenger services safely.

In preparation for the resumption of the ferry service, the Nagapattinam port has undergone modernization, including an allocation of Rs 3 crore for improvements. These enhancements feature the construction of dedicated lounges for citizenship processing, medical examinations, security checks, and baggage scanning.

The service was initially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a trial run in October 2023, using the vessel Cheriyapani. However, operations were temporarily suspended due to unfavorable climatic conditions.

The ferry will accommodate up to 150 passengers and 30 crew members, with ticket prices set at Rs 6,000. The resumption of this service aims to strengthen connectivity between India and Sri Lanka, fostering greater regional cooperation and travel opportunities. (Newswire SL)