CHENNAI: ‘Thoothukudi-Colombo ferry proposal soon’

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/%E2%80%98thoothukudi-colombo-ferry-proposal-soon%E2%80%99/226526.html

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on November 28, 2010:

CHENNAI: Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Saturday said that a proposal to introduce passenger ship service between Thoothukudi and Colombo would be placed for Cabinet approval soon.

Speaking to reporters  after inaugurating the India Maritime Human Resource Summit organised by  Gateway Knowledge Forum, Vasan said, “ the proposal would be placed for Cabinet’s approval at its meeting scheduled in the next few weeks and after the nod, the process to start passenger vessels service between Thoothukudi and Colombo would be initiated.” Though cargo vessel movement between these cities existed before, the service was stopped in 1990 due to various reasons.

The revival of the passenger service link could boost  ‘Spiritual Tourism’ between the two countries. It may be noted that thousands of people from the island  nation come to the temple towns like Rameswaram, Madurai Tiruchendur and Thanjavur every year.

All of these devotees now need to reach either Tiruchy or Chennai via air to go to Rameswaram and other parts of Tamil Nadu.  Once the ferry service resumes, it would be less of a burden to tourists’ and  pilgrims’ purses, sources in the Lankan Deputy High Commission told Express.

When the ferry service was discontinued two  decades ago, the fare per child was Rs 168 each and it was Rs 240 for an adult.  After resumption of the service, ticket charges could be price around Rs 1200 per person.