As a part of the plans to convert 50% of its passenger boats to solar, the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) will begin introducing solar-powered vessels of various passenger capacities in 2024.
The SWTD is anticipated to launch a 30-seater boat, the primary of the solar-powered crafts below the scheme, in Alappuzha early subsequent yr.
“We are switching from diesel to green energy to power our boat fleet. Apart from boats with 30 passenger capacity, we will launch vessels with 75 and 100 seats. The crafts are under different stages of construction. The 30-seater boats will be the first to be rolled out. We hope to launch it in less than 12 months in Alappuzha, followed by other districts. They will operate on routes with fewer passengers and inadequate transportation facilities. The 75 and 100-seater boats will be launched in the next phase,” says Shaji V. Nair, director SWTD.
The transfer to swap 50% of ferry boats to solar within the subsequent 5 years was introduced within the State Budget for 2022-23. The challenge will contribute to a cleaner setting and scale back the working value significantly.
“We are inspired by the success of Aditya, the solar-powered ferry operating between Vaikom and Thavanakkadavu. On an average operating a diesel-powered boat costs the department anywhere between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000 daily. The daily operational cost of a solar boat, on the other hand, will be much less at around ₹500. At present, we are transporting passengers at subsidised rates and the introduction of solar boats will bring an end to the issue of subsidy,” Mr. Nair says.
The division at current has 60 passenger vessels conducting 59 scheduled journeys each day. It caters to the site visitors wants of the individuals of waterlogged areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam, Kannur and Kasaragod, transporting round 1.5 crore passengers each year.
