The Hindu Business Line : New passenger vessels, landing barges for Lakshadweep

Kochi April 10 The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has received approval from the Centre for the acquisition of two passenger-cum-cargo vessels and six landing barges.

The 250 capacity-cum-100-tonne cargo vessels will augment the passenger facility in the island and mainland and inter-island sectors. The six landing barges will be placed in different islands to ease the embarkation and disembarkation difficulties of the passengers faced in the open sea.

The project entails Rs 82.35 crore each for passenger-cum-cargo vessel and Rs 51.06 crore for landing barges. Shipping Corporation of India is the technical consultant for the Lakshadweep administration and will supervise the process of construction and delivery of these vessels, a release issued here said.

Ease transport woes

Meanwhile, three high-speed inter-island crafts specially constructed for Lakshadweep were launched at the Penguin Boats International, Singapore, recently. It is hoped that these vessels, which would be deployed before the onset of monsoon, would ease the transportation problems of people. The islands would be connected every day with the deployment of these vessels, the release said.

These vessels have an average speed of 25 nautical miles per hour and can enter lagoons, where the depth is more than 1.7 metres. They are fitted with ride control systems, which consists of T-foils and interceptors to minimise the discomfort during the rough seas.