Ferry ride from Kerala to Maldives is on the cards

There will soon be a ferry service connecting India to Maldives. Recently, India and Maldives agreed to launch a ferry service connecting the two countries when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stressed on the need to improve connectivity between the two countries.

Both the leaders have directed officials to expedite works toward starting a regular passenger-cum-cargo ferry service between Kochi in Kerala and Maldivian capital Male via Kulhudhuffushi atoll. Both the countries have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the said purpose of starting ferry services between the countries. The said plan was announced when PM Modi was on a two-day state visit to the Maldives. This move is looked upon as an initiative to boost tourism and improve connectivity between the countries.
Reportedly, the distance between Male and Kochi is around 700 km, whereas distance between Kochi and Kulhudhuffushi atoll is 500 km.
Last year, when the then Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen imposed emergency on February 5, relations between India and the Maldives were strained. However, ties have improved under Solih’s presidency, and with this latest development of starting a ferry service between the countries, it is expected that it will further improve ties between the countries.
Maldives is one of the most favourite holiday destinations for Indian tourists, whereas India is also becoming the fastest developing market for Maldivian tourism, which registered an increase of 86 per cent of tourist footfall from India within a span of one year. Thus, the new initiative is likely to benefit both India and Maldives.