The inaugural trip of the newly introduced passenger-cum-tourist boat service through the Parvathy Puthanar is being held at the Veli Tourism Village in Thiruvananthapuram in Keralam on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).
Veli, the scenic coastal picnic destination in Thiruvananthapuram in Keralam, could be developed into the State’s largest transport hub in future, Transport Minister C.P. John has said.
Speaking after inaugurating the newly introduced passenger-cum-tourist boat service through the Parvathy Puthanar at Veli Tourism Village in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), he said Veli had immense potential for development in the transport and tourism sectors, given its proximity to major air, rail, water and road transport networks.
Veli would emerge as a central hub of the tourism circuit stretching from Kovalam to Varkala in the coming years, he said. Its proximity to the Thiruvananthapuram North railway station and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport would further bolster development. The projects would be implemented after ensuring the rehabilitation 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 Travancore kingdom.
Stressing the need to effectively utilise existing waterways, he said their continuous use was essential for keeping canals clean and well-maintained.
Solar-powered boat
The round-trip boat service, operated by the State Water Transport department along the Parvathy Puthanar from Veli to Kadinamkulam Lake and back, uses an eco-friendly solar-powered boat owned by the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). The boat has a seating capacity of 24. One-way journey covers 14 km and takes two hours. Initially, two services will be operated daily—from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
As part of the tourism service, passengers will disembark at the Kadinamkulam jetty, where special arrangements will be made for tourists to enjoy the lake scenery for half an hour. On returning to the jetty, passengers opting for the tourist package will be served tea and food in collaboration with Kudumbashree.
For regular passengers, the fare is ₹50 from Veli to Channankara, ₹30 from Channankara to Kadinamkulam, and ₹80 for a direct trip from Veli to Kadinamkulam. The round-trip fare from Veli to Kadinamkulam and back for tourists is ₹400. Passengers aged above 11 will be charged the full fare, while children aged between five and 11 will be charged 50% of the fare. Travel is free for children below five.
Ramya Haridas, MLA, presided over the function.
The Minister travelled on the boat after inaugurating the service.
Published – September 30, 2026 03:50 pm IST
