Solar boat service linking Veli and Kadinamkulam to start in Kerala
A solar-powered passenger and tourism boat will begin operating between Veli and Kadinamkulam in Kerala on September 30. The four-hour round trip will initially run once a day with capacity for 24 passengers, while authorities plan two daily services and separate fares for tourists and regular commuters.
A solar-powered boat service linking Veli and Kadinamkulam in Kerala will begin on September 30, combining inland-water tourism with passenger transport. The round trip will start at the Veli Tourism Village boat jetty, travel along the Parvathy Puthanar canal to Kadinamkulam Lake and return to Veli. The journey is designed to take four hours, with each 14-kilometre leg lasting about two hours.
The service will initially operate once a day using a solar boat leased from Cochin International Airport Limited. The vessel can carry 24 passengers. Authorities have proposed two daily time slots, from 9am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm, but only one service will run during the first phase.
After passengers are dropped at Kadinamkulam jetty, the boat will cruise for half an hour to give tourists time to view the backwaters. Tea and food will be arranged at the jetty in collaboration with Kudumbashree. Regular passengers will pay ₹50 between Veli and Channankara, ₹30 between Channankara and Kadinamkulam, and ₹80 for the full Veli-Kadinamkulam journey.
Tourists will pay ₹400 for a round trip. The fares apply to passengers over 11. Children aged five to 11 will pay half the standard fare, while children under five can travel free.
The service is part of the State Water Transport Department’s 100-day action plan and is intended to support inland-water tourism in the state capital. Transport Minister C.P. John is scheduled to inaugurate it at Veli Tourism Village on Wednesday, with Ramya Haridas MLA presiding.
The material does not state how long the initial operating arrangement will last or when the second daily service will be introduced.
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