You can now drive in style in you own vehicle to Colombo with the newly launched “Drive in-Drive out” facility on “Scotia Prince”, India's first international passenger ferry service to Colombo, from Flemingo Liners, from Tuticorin.

This facility will enable tourists to take their vehicles with them in the ferry and drive it around at the destination. The first passengers to avail themselves of this facility on board the Scotia Prince were two Australians who used this to travel from India to Sri Lanka. They had obtained the certificate from the Australian Automobile Association, according to Mr P.K Thimmayya, CEO, Flemingo Liners.

He said, “This is an exciting new feature for Indian travellers wishing to use their own vehicles across the border. We are happy to add a new dimension in the travel itinerary and are hopeful that this will open up an entirely new category of clientele who will like to travel in their own car to Sri Lanka and vice versa. The vehicles will be checked inside the ship as a registered baggage which the passenger can claim on reaching the destination.”

To avail this facility, he further said that the passengers need to obtain the “Carnet de Passage” document from the Automobile Association of India, the approximate cost would be Rs 5,000. On reaching Sri Lanka, the passenger should approach the local Automobile Association to obtain a temporary registration certificate to go around the country in their own vehicle.

Other things to be kept in mind while availing the facility are that it is for tourists who would return in six months to a year and need to give a bank guarantee. The tourist needs to be a member of the Automobile Association which will cost Rs 4,412 for a lifetime membership. They also need to get their vehicle inspected and have to declare the tools that they are taking with them.

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