Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka ferry service tickets price and ticket online booking details are out
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, an international high-speed passenger ferry service connecting Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu with Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka has recommenced after an interruption of nearly four decades.
The ceremony to mark this occasion was officiated by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Works, Highways, and Minor Ports, E.V. Velu, who jointly inaugurated the voyage of the high-speed craft (HSC) Cheriyapani.
Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka ferry service tickets price, ticket online booking details, luggage weight and route
The first ferry service from #Nagapattinam to #Kankesanthurai in #SriLanka was flagged off today, after a gap of 40 years.
The four hour long ferry is now sailing towards Sri Lanka with 150 passengers on board the high-speed ship #Cheriyapani belonging to the Shipping… pic.twitter.com/TcjROsXIFO
— Tamil Nadu Infra (@TamilNaduInfra) October 14, 2023
The vessel, led by Captain Biju George and carrying 50 passengers and 12 crew members, departed from Nagapattinam port around 8:15 a.m.
As per a report from ANI, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, officially inaugurated the ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented, “We are embarking on a new phase in India-Sri Lanka diplomatic and economic relations. The launch of the ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanturai marks a significant milestone in strengthening our bilateral ties.”
Ticket Fare
In a recent announcement, the Nagapattinam Shipping Harbour Department disclosed a special promotional fare of ₹2,800, which includes ₹2,375 plus an 18% tax, for passengers traveling on the ferry on October 14th, for a single day. This special rate represents a 75% discount from the regular ticket price.
Initially, the ticket cost for the journey to Sri Lanka was set at ₹7,670 per person, inclusive of ₹6,500 and an 18% GST. According to official reports, 30 passengers have already made reservations at this discounted rate for the upcoming trip.
Originally, the passenger transportation ship was scheduled to commence its operations on October 10, 2023, following a four-decade hiatus. However, due to administrative issues, the departure date was rescheduled to October 12 and then further postponed to October 14, as reported by ANI.
The booking facility will be available online from January 2024 and till then, people can call the number +919789879971 and book the slots, 24 hours in advance.
The daily service from Nagapattinam is at 7 am and it reaches Kankesanturai by 11 am and the return service from Kankesanturai is at 2 pm, and it reaches Nagapattinam by 5 pm. The ferry would cover a distance of about 60 nm (110 Km) between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai in 3.5 hours.
The high-speed craft (HSC) Cheriyapani, embarked on its journey around 8.15 a.m. from the Nagapattinam port with 50 passengers and 12 crew members headed by Captain Biju George, on board and it has a capacity of 150 pax and the distance of about 60 nm (110 Km) between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai is covered in approximately three-and-a-half hours depending on sea conditions.
Ferry Services
A press release from the High Commission of India, Colombo, stated that discussions regarding the enhancement of connectivity and the resumption of ferry services between the two nations took place virtually during a meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee on July 14 of this year.
The India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee was established as part of the MoU on Passenger Transportation by Sea.
The fruitful discussions centered on reinstating ferry services between the two countries, linking mutually agreed-upon locations. Both sides concurred that the resumption of ferry services would stimulate regional trade and tourism while fostering stronger people-to-people connections, as per the press release.
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