Veli-Kadinamkulam passenger-cum-tourist boat service opened in Keralam

The inaugural cruise of the newly introduced passenger and tourist service via Parvathy Puthanar takes place on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) at Veli Tourism Village in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Veli, a picturesque coastal picnic destination in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, could become the state’s biggest transport hub in the future, Transport Minister CP John said.

After inaugurating the newly introduced passenger and tourist transport via Parvathy Puthanar at Veli Tourism Village in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), he said that Veli has huge potential for development in the transport and tourism sector, given its proximity to major air, rail, water and road transport networks.

Veli will emerge as the central hub of the tourist circuit stretching from Kovalam to Varkala in the coming years, he said. Its proximity to Thiruvananthapuram North Railway Station and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport would further boost development. The projects will be implemented after ensuring the restoration and development of the local fishing community along the coast, he said.

The minister also recalled the historical significance of the waterway, which was established 202 years ago during the reign of Rani Parvathi Bayi of the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore.

He stressed the need to make efficient use of the existing waterways and said their continuous use was necessary to keep the canals clean and well maintained.

Solar powered boat

The return boat service, operated by the State Water Transport Department along the Parvatha Puthanar from Veli to Kadinamkulam Lake and back, uses an eco-friendly solar-powered boat owned by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). The ship has a capacity of 24 seats. The one-way journey is 14 km long and takes two hours. Initially, there will be two services a day – from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

As part of the tourism service, passengers will be disembarked at the Kadinamkulam jetty where special arrangements will be made to allow the tourists to enjoy the scenery of the lake for half an hour. After returning to the pier, passengers opting for the tour package will be served tea and food in association with Kudumbashree.

For regular passengers, the fare is ₹50 from Veli to Channankara, ₹30 from Channankara to Kadinamkulam and ₹80 for a direct journey from Veli to Kadinamkulam. The return fare from Veli to Kadinamkulam and back for tourists is ₹400. Passengers over the age of 11 will be charged the full fare, while children between the ages of five and 11 will be charged 50% of the fare. Travel is free for children under the age of five.

Ramya Haridas, MLA presided over the function.

The minister traveled on the ship after launching the service.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 15:50 IST