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– C.V. Subrahmanyam

The passenger vessel m.v. Kavaratti, designed and built at the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Visakhapatnam for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, was flagged off on Sunday by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ms Radhika Selvi.

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam, July 20

A 700-seater passenger vessel, m.v. Kavaratti, built for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, was flagged off at the Hindusthan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ms Radhika Selvi, on Sunday morning.

At a function arranged on the occasion in the shipyard, the Minister said that the union territory was “totally dependent for almost everything on the mainland and therefore connectivity is of the essence.”

Shipping held the lifeline for the Lakshadweep islands and Kavaratti would be of great help in boosting the economy of the islands by bringing in more tourists.

Ms Selvi said there had been quite a bit of delay in delivering the vessel, as the contract was signed in 2001 and it was originally scheduled to have been in 36 months, but it could not be done due to various constraints.

The UPA Government had to release additional funds to the extent of Rs 34 crore for the vessel construction and Rs 9.88 crore to HSL for equipment. The cost of the vessel had gone up to Rs 173 crore. In spite of these cost overruns and time lag, she said, the result is satisfactory and it is a world-class vessel.

Rear Admiral Ajit Tewari, Chairman and Managing Director of the HSL, said it was a matter of great pride for the HSL to have built such a ship. No other shipyard in the country was capable of constructing such a ship, he claimed.

He said the performance of the HSL during the past four years had been excellent and it could now be said that the shipyard had turned around. He praised the workers and officials for the revival of the plant. During the current financial year, he said, the HSL would be delivering nine vessels in all.

Mr B.V. Selvaraj, Administrator of Lakshadweep, said it was a historic day in the annals of the Union Territory and “the people of the islands are looking forward to receiving the vessel with great enthusiasm. It is the biggest vessel in our fleet and it will greatly improve connectivity with the mainland.”

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