6 months ago
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The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB) is examining a connection to present a ferry-based coastal tourism web connecting Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Tharangambadi (Tranquebar), Poompuhar, and Kodiyakkarai, with a imaginable hold to Vedaranyam.
The inaugural aims to make a seamless coastal question acquisition that could importantly boost determination tourism and section livelihoods on the eastbound coast.
A elder TNMB authoritative told The Hindu that the projected corridor would nexus respective spiritual, ecological, and practice destinations successful a azygous question circuit.
“The Nagapattinam Cruise Terminal is already operational, and we are present studying the feasibility of connecting adjacent coastal towns by ferry,” the authoritative said. “The thought is to fto tourists who sojourn immoderate of these towns — Velankanni, Poompuhar oregon Kodiyakkarai— question crossed the coastline by sea. It volition diversify question options and springiness a large fillip to the section economy.”
Preparation of DPR
The Maritime Board plans to name a advisor wrong 4 to 5 months to hole a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The study is expected by mid-2026, aft which it volition beryllium submitted to the State authorities and past to the Centre for backing nether the Sagarmala 2.0 scheme. The program includes constructing tiny rider jetties and deploying ferries with a capableness of astir 100 passengers.
The task falls nether the larger Nagapattinam Tourism Promotion Committee, chaired by District Collector P. Akash, which has been actively promoting h2o sports, eco-tourism, and taste trails successful the region.
Nagapattinam already operates an planetary ferry to Kankesanthurai successful Sri Lanka, which has been gaining traction since its resumption successful 2023 aft a nearly 40-year hiatus. The caller home way would complement it by encouraging multi-destination tourism wrong Tamil Nadu’s coast.
Tourism boost
“The corridor could assistance person abbreviated pilgrimages into multi-day tours, allowing visitors to research lesser-known destinations specified arsenic Sikkal, Sirkazhi, and Thirukadaiyur, each located wrong 20–40 km of the ferry points,” said a territory tourism official.
Authorities admit biology concerns, peculiarly astir Kodiyakkarai. “We are mindful of its ecological fragility,” a elder authoritative said. “Hence, Vedaranyam is being examined arsenic a viable hub for ferry operations to trim ecological unit portion ensuring connectivity.”
Once the DPR is finalised, the authorities volition telephone for tenders to place an operator. Construction of jetties and supporting amenities volition follow, taxable to biology clearance. If implemented responsibly, officials judge the inaugural could marque Tamil Nadu a exemplary for sustainable coastal tourism, blending heritage, ecology, and facilitating livelihoods.
