The Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD) will launch daily solar-cruise services from Ernakulam to Fort Kochi and the Kadamakudy islands on Saturday, opening a new public water transport option for visitors and creating the department’s first dedicated tourist vessel service to the island cluster.
The 30-passenger vessel Saurya 2 will operate two services from the Ernakulam boat jetty. Bookings are scheduled to open on Friday, according to a report by Times of India.
The first service, named See Kochi, will depart at 11am and return at 1pm. The two-hour cruise will pass Bolgatty, Vallarpadam, Vypeen and Fort Kochi before returning to the Ernakulam jetty. Tickets will cost Rs 200 per person.
The second service, See Kadamakudy, will leave at 3pm for a four-hour journey through nearly 12 island clusters, including Kothad and Pizhala. The cruise will continue to the Kadamakudy viewpoint, with passengers expected to see sunset views during the return journey. The vessel is scheduled to reach Ernakulam again by 7pm, with tickets priced at Rs 300 per person.
The service adds a tourism-focused layer to Kochi’s existing water transport network, connecting the mainland boat jetty with a dispersed group of islands that are typically experienced through separate road and local travel arrangements. The Kadamakudy route will be the first dedicated tourist service operated by SWTD to the islands, the report said.
Passengers travelling to Kadamakudy will also be able to access activities at a local resort, including kayaking and water sports, for an additional Rs 100. Snacks will be included in the excursion fare. The vessel will have a music system, while online booking is expected to be introduced later, a senior SWTD official said.
SWTD has announced differentiated fares for younger passengers. Children below five years will be allowed to travel free, while children below 11, including school groups travelling on educational trips, will receive tickets at half price. These concessions position the service not only as a leisure excursion but also as an accessible group activity for families and schools.
The launch also places local economic activity at the centre of the route’s expected impact. Kadamakudy panchayat president M S Antony said increased tourist arrivals could create opportunities for local enterprises, Kudumbashree units, small vendors and stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The route’s operation will test how a public water transport service can connect tourism destinations across Kochi’s islands while directing visitor spending towards local businesses. For residents and enterprises in Kadamakudy, the key change will be the arrival of a scheduled, department-operated tourist connection rather than an occasional or individually arranged visit.
The two services are scheduled to begin on Saturday, with bookings opening on Friday through the arrangements announced by SWTD. Online booking will be introduced at a later stage, according to the department official quoted in the report.
