Exactly 104 years after the turban-wearing Tamil from south Tamil Nadu, V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC), operated the first steam ship from Tuticorin to Colombo to drive home the point that economic freedom would lead to political freedom, another ship retraced the path on Tuesday.
At 5.45 a.m., when the weather was alternating between sunny skies and intermittent downpour, a passenger ferry from Tuticorin docked here.
‘Scotia Prince,' a ship on lease promoted by Flemingo Duty Free Shops, will put to test the business plan VOC so firmly believed in.
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As many as 201 passengers were on board the ship, which has a capacity of 1,044. Many were returning on Tuesday evening itself.
For now, the ferry will be operated twice a week.
The people on the ferry believe that the service will spur economic growth in south Tamil Nadu, which has been left out of the boom in the State.
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“Pilgrims travelling from Sri Lanka to Velankanni, Nagapattinam and other places of interests will have an easy access now since the nearest flight is to Tiruchi. This will be a viable option,” said K. Pon Venkatesh, a clearing and forwarding agent from Tuticorin.
His colleague in APL (India), S. Jebakumar, agreeing that the fare was a bit steep, said once the service became popular, cargo movement would drive the economy of both countries.
Welcome ceremony
India's High Commissioner here Ashok K. Kantha and Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Ports and Highways Rohitha Abegunawardena inaugurated the new passenger terminal and participated in a welcome ceremony on board the ship.
Mr. Kantha said it was a historic occasion for the two countries. Referring to the halt of the Rameswaram-Thalaimannar ferry service in the 1980's, he said the ferry service was being resumed after 30 years as a result of an understanding Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he visited India in June 2010. The ferry service, he said, would give a fillip to tourism and trade and strengthen cultural ties.
The passenger service between Talaimannar and Rameswaram will commence once the infrastructure is put in place on both sides, Birender Singh, Counsellor (Press, Information & Culture), High Commission of India, said in a release.