The launch of a new ferry service between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has the islanders of Lakshadweep feeling short-changed as it has further worsened their transportation woes.
The islanders had been clamouring for more passenger vessels for inter-island transport when Cheriyapani, a high-speed ferry with the capacity to carry 150 passengers, was taken out of service within the island group and launched for the ferry service connecting Sri Lanka.
“Cheriyapani,” according to Mohammed Faizal, who’s awaiting restoration of his Lok Sabha membership representing the Union Territory, “was one of the three high-speed vessels conducting inter-island ferry services besides occasionally conducting services to Kochi in the mainland. Together the three vessels had a capacity to ship 450 passengers. It’s just Valiyapani and Parali now, with a combined capacity of 300 passengers. This is sure to further aggravate the transportation crisis faced by the islanders”.
“The high-speed ferries are the ones that would ply to the farthest island in the group, Minicoy. These apart, there are just three intra-island ferries - each capable of carrying 50 passengers - operating in the island group. But they are not cleared to operate to the mainland or to Minicoy,” said an islander on condition of anonymity.
The islanders have been up in arms about the erratic service of the five ships linking the island group with Kochi. Two of these ships are designed to carry 250 passengers each, two others with a passenger capacity of 400 each and one, mv Kavaratti, capable of carrying 700 passengers.
