The high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) and Kankesanthurai (Sri Lanka), which was launched just a day ago, has been canceled as of Sunday, October 15. The operation schedule has been adjusted to run 3 times weekly until its scheduled suspension after October 23.
After nearly 4 decades, the ferry service between India and Sri Lanka resumed with a ceremonial launch on Saturday, led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Tamil Nadu Ministers E.V. Velu and S. Regupathy. The HSC Cheriyapani ferry set sail from Port Nagapattinam with 14 crew and 50 passengers on its outbound journey to Sri Lanka, and around 30 passengers on its return journey from Kankesanthurai the same evening.
Initially, the Shipping Corporation of India and Tamil Nadu Maritime Board had planned to operate the service daily from October 14 for 10 days, with a subsequent suspension from October 23 to January due to the onset of the northeast monsoon, as the vessel was not suitable for operation during adverse weather conditions.
The revised schedule now includes ferry crossings on October 16, 18, 20, and 23 to facilitate test runs, with the intent of optimizing the service.
In the meantime, the Nagapattinam District Small and Tiny Industries Association has raised concerns about the need for port infrastructure enhancements at the Nagapattinam port, specifically for handling container ships. In a letter to Minister Sonowal, the association emphasized the lack of ports with the necessary infrastructure for container ship handling between Chennai and Thoothukudi on the eastern coast. They also highlighted past exports of household items and commodities, such as onions, from Nagapattinam to Singapore and Malaysia, underscoring the significance of port infrastructure development for local employment opportunities and the economic growth of the Cauvery Delta region, benefiting residents from neighboring districts.