Nagai-SL ferry fare slashed to Rs 8,000 per round trip
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The operator also announced an increase in the limit of free luggage allowance.
Sundararaj Ponnusamy, the chairperson of Subham Group which operates the ferry, said, "The ticket fare for a round trip between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai has been reduced with an effect from Wednesday to attract more bookings from passengers."
The operator also increased the weight limit of the free luggage allowance from 10kg to 22kg while an additional paid luggage has been limited from 60kg to 50kg.
"The passengers can carry 15kg as checked luggage and 7kg as hand luggage for free," said Subhashree Sundararaj, the director of Subham Ferry.
The group has been operating the ferry named Sivagangai between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai since Aug 2024. It also introduced special tour packages for passengers to experience Mannar, Nainativu, Trincomalee-Anuradhapura and the Ramayana trail. "Two more packages will be introduced to Sri Lanka and seven new packages will be introduced to India," said Ponnusamy.
The group will also launch a cargo service and another passenger ferry in the coming months, sources said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Teynampet-Saidapet flyover is TN's costliest at Rs 195 crore per km
Soil stabilisation, utility relocation jacked up cost Following the awarding of contract in November-December 2023, civil works of the project, executed by J Kumar Infraprojects, began in January 2024. The new four-lane elevated corridor aims to reduce the travel time between Teynampet and Saidapet on Anna Salai from 40 minutes to just 10 minutes, while easing congestion at seven key intersections — Eldams Road, SIET College Road, Cenotaph Road, Nandanam, CIT Nagar, CIT Nagar 1st Main Road (towards T Nagar), and Jones Road. This section of the arterial Anna Salai handles 2.45 lakh passenger car units per day. A senior highways official attributed the high cost of the Teynampet-Saidapet project to several critical factors such as soil stabilisation challenges requiring micro-piling (since shallow foundations prevented conventional piling), extensive utility relocations in a densely-congested area, and advanced construction techniques to minimise pillar loads and safeguard the underground metro tunnel. 'Soil stabilisation was achieved using geosynthetic materials like geogrids and geocells, among other solutions,' stated an official document released by the state highways department. The Teynampet-Saidapet metro line runs 17-18 metres beneath Anna Salai. The highways have drilled up to 7 metres from the road surface to lay the flyover's foundation. The elevated road spans 2.4 km directly above the metro line, including 460 metres over the Nandanam and Teynampet stations, and 655 metres along the non-metro stretch (excluding entry and exit ramps). In total, 69 pillars are being erected above the metro line, 22 on the non-metro stretch, and 41 portal frames covering the 460 metres over the two stations. As of July, about 30% of the work has been completed, according to official documents. Industry sources said NHAI projects, typically executed under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, are usually more expensive than state highways projects, which are entirely government-funded. 'The estimation of state highways and NHAI projects are arrived at with an anticipation that materials, labour and other expenses will go up by 5% to 7% every year. By all measures, the cost of the state highways project ought to be lower than that of the NHAI unless it's being executed under exceptional conditions,' sources added. Even after accounting for inflation and price escalation, the proposed 18.5 km six-lane elevated corridor between Kilambakkam and Maraimalainagar, with entry and exit ramps at three locations, is estimated to cost Rs 3,450 crore, averaging Rs 188 crore per km. Likewise, two upcoming six-lane elevated corridor projects of NHAI – from Maduravoyal to Outer Ring Road and from ORR to Sriperumbudur, scheduled for award in 2025-26 – are projected to have an average cost of Rs 160 cr/km.
New Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Global meet will project Sabarimala as world-class spiritual destination: minister V N Vasavan
PATHANAMTHITTA: The first-ever Global Ayyappa Meet, scheduled to be held at Pampa on September 20, is gathering momentum with preparations in full swing. The event will see the participation of around 3,000 delegates from various countries, alongside Union ministers and chief ministers from other states. Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan said the meet aims to project Sabarimala as a world-class spiritual destination. 'A Rs 1,300-crore master plan has been drawn up for the comprehensive development of Sabarimala. Also, work on the proposed Sabarimala airport and railway line is progressing, with the airport expected to be commissioned by 2028,' the minister said during a preparatory meeting at Pampa. Jointly organised by the state government and the Travancore Devaswom Board, the meet is expected to mark a new chapter in the pilgrimage centre's history. The minister added that suggestions from devotees across the world would be actively considered. To facilitate the event, a central reception office will be opened in Pathanamthitta, with additional reception centres at Pampa, Perunad and Seethathode. KSRTC will arrange transport facilities for delegates, who will be provided with accommodation across various centres in the district. Facilities will also be made for darshan, while modern medical care will be ensured in hospitals at Pampa and nearby areas. Vehicle parking will be arranged at Hill Top, and voluntary organisations will be roped in for sanitation and cleaning work.
Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
Farmers left high & dry amid acute urea shortage in Bhadradri
Kothagudem: Althoughthe state government had flagged the sharp shortfall in urea supply to the state and the Centre has since claimed that 'adequate' urea is being supplied to Telangana, the ground reality is pathetic in Bhadradi, where farmers a facing a double whammy. The monsoon has played truant in Bhadradri Kothagudem, where rainfall in June stood at 134.4 mm, against the expected 169.1 mm — a 20% shortfall. Although July saw surplus rainfall, it was unevenly spread and provided little relief to most farmers. That apart, right in the district's heartland and elsewhere an acute shortage of urea is pushing farmers to the brink. The district has over 2.08 lakh acres under cotton cultivation and more than 12,000 acres under paddy. With the Kharif season in full swing, farmers were expecting timely rainfall and adequate fertiliser supplies. However, both have fallen short of the requirement. The district requires 30,277 metric tonnes (MT) of urea by August, but only 19,202 MT have been supplied so far. Of this, 16,786 MT have been distributed, while 3,166 MT remain locked away with private dealers selling them at a premium— raising serious questions over supply chain transparency and accountability. Scenes of desperation are playing out daily at primary agricultural society godowns and dealers' shops. Farmers are queuing up before dawn, hoping to get their hands on just a couple of urea bags. In many mandals, godowns are located miles away, forcing small and marginal farmers to spend avoidable extra on transport — often Rs. 50 per bag just, apart from auto fares. The other option is worse: 'We can't afford to wait in line for hours, only to be told 'stock is over'. If we go to private dealers, they charge Rs. 350 or more per bag,' laments Satish, a farmer from Rampuram. 'Cultivating cotton without urea at this stage is unthinkable.' Amid spotty monsoon rains, nutrient support becomes even more vital. Although the Agriculture Department claims 'there is no shortage', officials quietly admit in confidence that 'at least 10,000 MT more urea is needed immediately'. What is galling is that, some large farmers are allegedly hoarding stock by leveraging their influence at cooperative societies. This way, small farmers are being elbowed out by biometric systems and unwarranted delays in distribution. When contacted, District Agriculture Officer V. Baburao said, 'We are conducting inspections and have warned dealers against overpricing. Nano urea is also being promoted as an alternative, though farmers remain hesitant. Another 10,000 MT of urea is expected soon.' All told, hope is wearing thin for most farmers. Paddy fields are drying up, and cotton crops are showing stunted growth. As the Kharif season enters a critical phase, farmers are demanding immediate government intervention, transparent distribution of fertilisers, and strict action against black marketing. As of now, the fields of Bhadradri are parched, abandoned by the very systems that are meant to sustain them.
