Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The Union Government has informed Parliament that the tender process for inviting bids for shipping service between Kerala and Dubai will be soon set into motion as the necessary permissions have been granted for it. Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Shipping Minister, informed the Parliament recently that the route has been approved by the Central Government.
In response to a query by Member of Parliament Hibi Eden, Sonowal said in the Lok Sabha that passenger ship service between Kerala and Gulf countries is under the consideration of the Central Government and discussions have been held with the concerned parties. The Minister said that they will soon invite expression of interest from those who are interested in providing the service.
The much- awaited announcement has come after possibilities of ship services were discussed with Shipping Corporation of India, Directorate- General of Shipping, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kerala Maritime Board and NORKA Roots by the Government at different levels.
As per sources which are part of the ongoing discussions, the ship route to Gulf will be much cheaper and convenient for the travellers from Kerala and Indian mainland. Travellers will be allowed to carry three times the luggage that they carry in a flight.
Dubai cruise ship service is being contemplated by the Government and urgent steps are being taken to start the services taking into account the demands of expatriate passengers in the sector. The need for such a route was attributed to the exorbitant rates that expats and tourists have to pay during peak seasons for air travel.
The around 4,000-km route approved by the authorities from Beypore in Kozhikode, via Kochi, to Dubai promises convenient travel, one-third of the airfare, and breathtaking views of the sea and its vast landscapes.
