Mangaluru: Here is some good news for all those who want to go to the Lakshadweep Islands and chill on the beach. A passenger’s vessel has now begun operations between Mangaluru and the Lakshadweep Islands.
The vessel, ‘MINICOY’, has begun its journey from the Old Port, Mangaluru on Wednesday, March 4 noon, at around 1 pm, and is expected to reach Kavaratti in the Lakshadweep on Thursday morning. With this passenger’s vessel, the connection between Mangaluru and Lakshadweep restarted. Surprisingly, the ticket fare is just Rs 200 per head (excluding taxes and other expenses). So far, travellers had to go all the way to Kochi, just to get to the Islands.
On Wednesday, a total of 40 passengers boarded the Minicoy. This vessel has a seating capacity of 150. An employee of the vessel, Shahul Hameed said that the time-table will be set by the Lakshadweep administration and that a shipping company from Kochi has started this service. Hameed also informed that, as the Lakshadweep administration intendeds to boost tourism, it wanted to start a separate passenger vessel between Lakshadweep and Mangaluru.
Kumar, a resident of Selam in Tamil Nadu, who was on board the vessel, said that he was travelling to the Lakshadweep as he got a construction job on the Island for the next three months.
There are over 30 islands in the Arabian sea off the coast of Kerala, of which around 10 are inhabited. Those people residing on these islands depend on Mangaluru and small ports in Kerala. There was a passenger vessel from New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) during the summer season, but it was stopped in December last year.
Entry permit required
However, if a person wants to take the vessel to the Lakshadweep, they need to go through certain procedures as the entry to the Lakshadweep Islands is restricted. One requires an entry permit issued by the Lakshadweep administration to visit these islands, apart from a resident sponsoring the visitor. The sponsor will get the papers cleared through the administration in the Lakshadweep. Later, the ticket can be booked using a valid identity card. There are tourism agencies that offer packages which include visits to various tourist spots and stay on the islands.
Mangaluru and Lakshadweep had a strong trade connection, however, tourism projects from Mangaluru could not take off. With this vessel, the Lakshadweep may see a boost in its tourism.
