KOCHI: With 12 new ships and seaplane set to commence services to Lakshadweep in just a few years from now, the poor connectivity encountered by the islanders will be resolved to a great extent, said Mohammed Faizal A B, who represents the region in the Lok Sabha.
Presently, there are seven passenger ships and six cargo vessels operating from Lakshadweep to Kerala. “The Centre has approved a proposal to procure 12 new ships for Lakshadweep. Of these, five will be passenger ships and the rest, cargo and tanker vessels. “One of the vessels will be wholly meant for tourism purposes while two of them will be used for inter-island transport,” he said.
Similarly, there are moves to develop the Agatti Airport. “Currently, only smaller aircraft can land at Agatti. We are looking at the airport’s expansion which will allow medium-sized aircraft to land there. An ATF( aviation turbine fuel) refuelling station, which will enhance the airline operations, too is part of the plan,” he said. A project to provide inter-island travel connectivity is also on the cards.