The new terminal complex for passenger vessels to and from Lakshadweep islands, built at a cost Rs. 38 crore, is nearing completion and is expected to be inaugurated in early September. The terminal was, however, informally inaugurated with the arrival of the vessel Lakshadweep Sea here on Monday.
The terminal is ready for receiving vessels and other passenger vessels are expected at the terminal in the coming days. The terminal has been built on the Mattancherry channel and is 300 metres long and 12 metres wide. It can receive up to three vessels at a time.
The terminal will be served six metres of draft.
Sources in the Lakshadweep Administration said that work on the building and the terminal complex would be completed by the end of August.
The terminal complex, a two-storey building with 16,500 sq. ft. of space, was funded by the Union Home Ministry and the work was carried out by the Port Trust. The complex comprises ticket counters and other facilities for the passengers.
The spokesman said that the terminal will serve around two to three thousand passengers a month. The Lakshadweep administration has four vessels plying between Kochi and the islands during the monsoon season. These vessels are Lakshadweep Sea , Kavaratti , Bharat Seema and Arabian Sea .
