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India-Sri Lanka ferry service to take off soon: Union minister

28 February 2020 08:53 am - 11     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In order to promote tourism, the ministry for shipping has mooted a proposal to start ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Jaffna in Sri Lanka covering a distance of 56 nautical miles (103.7 kilometres).

Shortly after chairing a meeting with ministers and government officials of Puducherry, Union minister of state for shipping Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday addressed a press conference saying that the project is expected to take off in three to four months. 

Lok Sabha MP V Vaithilingam, who was present at the press meet along with the Union minister, said it would take around three hours for one-way ferry trip and would cost around Rs 6,5000 to Rs 7,000 for a round trip. Some investors have already expressed interest with their proposals, he Kandasamy added.

Mandaviya said hundreds of Tamil-speaking people from Sri Lanka come to India on pilgrimage. Besides, many Sri Lankans also visit India to see Buddhist sites. The ferry service will facilitate their visit. It will not only give boost to tourism, but will also improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he said.

A ferry service between India and Sri Lanka was operated between Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, over a distance of 30 nautical miles. After the 1964 cyclone destroyed infrastructure at Dhanushkodi, the service was operated from Rameswaram. In 1984, the Union government suspended the service due to the rise of ethnic conflict in the island nation. In more recent years, the TN government has been looking at a fresh site at Rameswaram to resume operations.

The project would be on public-private partnership (PPP) basis, where the operator would run the service, Karaikal Port will be the facilitator and the central government would extend support, Mandaviya said, adding, to take the proposal forward, a committee under chief secretary along with secretary (port) would be constituted at the earliest. The committee would go into the nitty-gritty and submit a report. Issues related to immigration, customs and NOC by agencies concerned will looked after by the Union government, the minister added.

It is a major tourism project that will help in the development of Karaikal, said Puducherry Health and Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his ministers, who wanted to implement such a project, are happy to see the Union government initiating it. The project will bring business and economic development to Puducherry, said port minister M Kandasamy. (Indian Express)


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  Comments - 11

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  • Casanova Friday, 28 February 2020 10:01 AM

    Dear President, please ensure these Indians are checked properly, even better if their clothes are dry cleaned at the port, please check their stale foods etc, high possibilities there also could be rats in the ferry.God save Sri Lanka.

    Kumaran Friday, 28 February 2020 12:37 PM

    Better than bringing coronavirus from china.

    Roshan Friday, 28 February 2020 12:40 PM

    Have you been to India and Tasted their food. Dont talk like a fool.

    Karu Friday, 28 February 2020 12:57 PM

    Who checked when Wijaya came from Orissa. Stupid

    Sugandh Thomas Friday, 28 February 2020 05:30 PM

    You just proved there are worse rats in SriLanka.

    Rex Friday, 28 February 2020 12:55 PM

    This will promote illegal immigrants, and more drug trafficking under the pretence of tourism!

    Nishan Friday, 28 February 2020 12:58 PM

    Can we trust Union government to safeguard our immigration regulation? It will be one way traffic for sure!

    Sashi Friday, 28 February 2020 12:59 PM

    We need to strengthen our borders, not weaken them!

    Karu Friday, 28 February 2020 04:22 PM

    Illegal immigrants can come through air too like how our people land in Europe and elsewhere. Wonder how our culture and language came.

    Shehan Friday, 28 February 2020 01:07 PM

    A long waited issue finally going to implement.

    Ranjan Perera Friday, 28 February 2020 04:47 PM

    Very bad decision. Not good at all. Good and wealthy Indians will not come in this ferry. Only job seekers, smugglers, illegal good carriers will come. Very bad for Sri Lanka.


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