Chennai: People traveling to coastal cities in Tamil Nadu can immediately take a boat from Chennai because the Trust Port Chennai plans to introduce ferry services to Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Puducherry and Karaisa.
Trust has invited an expression of interest (EOI) to serve a roll-on-roll-on-roll-on-roll (RO-PAX) ship to four cities with a long-term plan for ferry passenger ships, including cruise services, to various parts of the country and neighbors Sri Lanka.
The announcement came after the online meeting between the Authority and Stakeholders of Chennai Port and operating stakeholders.
EOI aims to prepare for the future for prospective operators to launch facilities from Port Chennai as a ‘home port’.
Private operators who want to offer services must have or rent ferries / vessels and have to mobilize their own funds for the project.
Port City will not invest, it will offer its infrastructure for the ProjectChnai port will not invest or donate any funds for the project except offering existing infrastructure and facilities, said EOI.
Through the scheme, Trust Port Chennai plans to take advantage of the ‘roaming facilitation center’ dedicated to handling cruise and passengers.
Before the Covid-19 onset, the port handles the average five international cruise ships and 27 passenger ships to Blair Port a year.
Chennai Port Trust Chairman P Raveendran said the ferry service will also include cruise ships and Sri Lanka is a possible international destination for services from Chennai.
“Dredging is happening in Puducherry and Cuddalore port, which will help ferry service operations.
We already have a port in the Karaisa,” he said.
Video conferences meet with operators who are interested in the project planned on Monday.