Distance between Kozhikode and Kochi could be covered in three hours
Over the past couple of decades, urban planners in Kerala have increasingly turned to the possibilities of water transportation, both in easing traffic logjams and as potential feeder routes to some of the proposed mass transit projects. Now, the state is also eyeing the potential for blending tourism into the template of water transport, on its coastal waters.
In what is advertised as a first-of-its-kind project in the country, a Kochi-based company is set to launch a high-speed hydrofoil ferry service between the cities of Kochi and Kozhikode.
For a state invariably identified with customised tour packages on its backwaters, this dimension of leisure, in many ways, could translate to new possibilities. With the state government as a facilitator in the ferry service, the promoters – Safe Boat Trip Pvt Ltd, a joint venture company formed by entrepreneurs in Kerala and Dubai and led by the Tolins Group – are also looking at a possible expansion after a tentative launch planned around the Onam festival, in September. The State Ports Department and promoters of the project have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in connection with the service.
In the initial phase, the ferry service will connect the ports of Kochi and Beypore. Recently, two hydrofoil cruise boats (costing Rs 15 crore each) brought in for the service, from Athens in Greece, arrived in Kochi. The service is expected to commence either from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute jetty or the one operated by the Cochin Port Trust.
Proposed along the shipping channel 12 nautical miles off the shore, the service is also set to avail waivers from the Ports Department. Typically, a hydrofoil boat has only its foils (small wing-like extensions) submerged and the hulls lifted off the water, enabling the boat to move faster. According to the promoters, the boats could cover the distance between Kochi and Kozhikode (at close to six hours by road) in about three hours or less.
Safe Boat Trip officials say the ferry service on offer will combine convenience of a faster journey with the amenities and comforts of air travel. K V Tolin, Managing Director of the company, says the idea is to provide a quality experience at a fairly affordable rate.
The pricing details are still being worked out; the average fare for a trip could be around Rs 1,000 per passenger. Tourism is definitely a possibility but the promoters are saving that for the expansion phases. The interiors of the two vessels – which offer both economy and business segments – are being worked on, to bring in a more contemporary and native feel.
With a seating capacity for 180 people, the vessel travels at an average speed of 35 nautical miles (about 64 km) per hour. The vessels will be operated only during the day time, in accordance with service guidelines put forward by the Ports Department.
The promoters of the service are awaiting the mandatory clearances, including one to hoist Indian flags on the Russian-made vessels, from the Mercantile Marine Department and the Director General of Shipping. P I Sheik Pareeth, Director of Ports, says the state government is providing an impetus to the service through a subsidy of Re 1 per passenger per km. “At a price of about Rs 300 per hour, and with the kind of service on offer, this could be a value-for-money experience,” he says.
The vessels will have communication systems that match global standards and will be equipped with facilities to offer emergency assistance to fishermen. The air-conditioned vessels also come with food on board, the pricing of which is being finalised. Experts from Greece will be in charge of the vessels as they commence the service. Later, locals will be trained to take over the responsibilities.
Pareeth is also looking at tourism as a long-term prospect, based on the response to the service. “I would say that in the expanded phase of the service, about 70 % of the passengers on board will be tourists. Later, these ferry services could also be developed around existing tour circuits; we can probably build itineraries which cover regions like, say, Kappad (a popular beach near Kozhikode),” says Pareeth. Tolin says the expansion plans include an extension of services to Thiruvananthapuram (Vizhinjam), Lakshadweep and Sri Lanka. Bigger vessels and greater frequency of services are also on the cards.
K Rajagopal, a Kochi-based businessman who travels at least twice during a month to Kozhikode, feels there is potential for the service if it addresses niche customers who seek a quicker, more comfortable journey. “The challenge will be in blending the concepts of leisure into what is essentially a mode of point-to-point transportation. It could definitely open up a new option for people who can afford a pricier journey and are at present settling for whatever is available,” he says.
Published 30 July 2016, 18:16 IST