Courtesy The Morning

• First ferry from Pondicherry due end of April
• $ 50 one way ticket, 100 Kg luggage allowance

A new passenger terminal at Kankesanturai (KKS) port, built at a cost of Rs 144 million is to be completed by the second week of April, with the first ferry from the Indian port of Karaikal, in Pondicherry expected on 29 April.

According to the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, the first ferry line of the new ferry service between Pondicherry and Kankesanthurai (KKS) is scheduled to call on 29 April 2023.

According to Minister Siripala, the passenger terminal is built at the KKS port, with funding of Rs. 144 million from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The total construction of the new terminal has been entrusted to be carried out by the Sri Lanka Navy.

It is learnt that basic constructions of the passenger terminal have already been begun by the SL Navy with work expected to complete by the second week of April.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, ferry service owners have revealed that $ 50 will be charged from a passenger for a one way trip, and each passenger will be afforded a baggage of 100 kg.

A ferry will carry 150 passengers at a time, and will take around 4 hour’s journey from Karaikal Port to KKS. Ferry Service owners emphasised that only day time operations will be in effect during the first stage of operations” a ministry official said.

Minister Siripala also said that with the launch of the new ferry service, the expansion activities of the KKS port are expedited. Since the credit grant facility granted by India for these constructions at present is insufficient, an additional credit facility of $ 16 million has been requested from the Indian Exim Bank,” Minister Siripala explained.