The Tamil Nadu government is studying a passenger ferry service that could link Chennai, Mamallapuram and Puducherry.
The idea is to boost coastal tourism. It would also give people another way to travel along the east coast.
The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, or TNMB, has invited expressions of interest from ferry operators. This is an early step.
The board wants to know whether private companies are interested and whether the service can work.
Key points
- The plan is a ferry linking Chennai, Mamallapuram and Puducherry.
- Operators are being asked for ideas, not yet for a final decision.
- Responses are due by December 1 through the state e-procurement portal.
- The main hurdle is the lack of a passenger-vessel berthing facility at Mamallapuram.
What do operators need to tell the board?
Operators have been asked to recommend suitable vessels.
They must also suggest passenger capacity, service frequency and likely demand for the route.
The board will look closely at fares, journey times and reliability. It will also study seasonal changes in travel.
The route passes through open waters of the Bay of Bengal. Sea conditions change during the southwest and northeast monsoons.
Operators must recommend vessels that can run safely in these conditions.
The number of days the service can run each year matters too. So does how well sea travel can compete with road travel.
Why is the berthing facility such a big issue?
Mamallapuram does not have a passenger-vessel berthing facility.
Building one would need statutory, environmental and heritage clearances. The town is an important heritage destination.
Chennai Port has a cruise passenger terminal at the West Quay of Dr Ambedkar Dock.
It covers 4,103 square metres and handles around 800 passengers an hour. It can take vessels up to 340 metres long.
Puducherry Port has a 150-metre quay. It can take vessels with a draft of up to 2 metres.
Draft is the depth of water a ship needs below its surface.
What happens next for the project?
Operators must send their responses by December 1 through the state e-procurement portal.
The board will then assess whether the service is commercially and operationally viable.
Only after that will the board decide whether to go ahead.
The project would also need coordination between the Centre, the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments, port authorities and other regulators.
- 1Operators send responsesSend responses by December 1 through the state e-procurement portal.
- 2Board assesses viabilityThe board checks whether the service is commercially and operationally viable.
- 3Board decidesOnly after the assessment will the board decide whether to go ahead.
- 4Coordination across agenciesThe Centre, both state governments, port authorities and other regulators must coordinate.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Explainer
What happened before
- The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board has invited expressions of interest from ferry operators.
- Mamallapuram does not yet have a passenger-vessel berthing facility.
- Puducherry Port has a 150-metre quay for vessels with a draft of up to 2 metres.
Why it matters
The plan aims to promote coastal tourism and give people another travel option along the east coast.
What to watch next
- Operators must submit their responses through the state e-procurement portal by December 1.
