Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 2: The first hi-speed passenger ship MSV Parali arrived here on Thursday, May 2, at the old port from Lakshadweep after the Covid-19 pandemic.
After four years since the pandemic there was an hope of restarting the passenger ship service from Lakshadweep to Mangaluru.
As many as 150 passengers, 8 labourers and, 3 staffers arrived in the passenger ship at the old port from Lakshadweep. Former MLA J R Lobo welcomed the passengers at the port.
The ship will return to Lakshadweep on Saturday. Earlier, the ship took 13 hours to travel to the old port from Lakshadweep but now the hi-speed ship takes only 7 hours which costs Rs 450.
One of the passengers and a resident of Lakshadweep said, "We were delighted to travel to Mangaluru directly from Lakshadweep or else we would have had to travel to Kochi and then take a train from there to reach Mangaluru. Lakshadweep and the local administration need to take initiative to restart the passenger ship facility from Lakshadweep to Mangaluru.
The last passenger ship had arrived here from Lakshadweep in 2020 before the lockdown while the hi-speed passenger ship arrived here from Lakshadweep after 7 years.
Former MP of Lakshadweep Amdulla Sayed had arrived in Mangaluru and had discussions with U T Khader and district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundurao on restarting the facility to Mangaluru from Lakshadweep. "If this facility continues then it will be really helpful for development and business perspective," said Abboobakkar Ashraf.
There is a need to take permission to travel to Lakshadweep from the department concerned. If any relative lives in Lakshadweep we need an invite from them and later the individual needs to apply to travel and take approval from the police department. Bookings can also made for travel through travel agencies. However, the process needs to be simplified for a smooth travel to Lakshadweep.