India to Maldives Passenger Ferry in the Works – Expected to Offer Affordable Transport

Following an MoU signed between the Maldives’ Ministry of Transport and India’s Ministry of Shipping in 2019, both nations committed to begin a passenger ferry and cargo service. This was brought to light again on one of the ABP Live Podcasts on 24th February 2022 as part of the 26th episode of “OMG! Is that Real?”. The podcast by Niharika Nanda offered more insights into what such a ferry service could offer including affordable transport options and making the Maldives more accessible too.

According to the podcast, the ferry would take 24 hours to cover the distance of approximately 700 km and would have a capacity to carry 300 passengers and around 500 tonnes of cargo. It would be expected that such a service will only help to increase Indian tourist arrivals in theMaldives; 5-star resortson private islands such as The Residence Maldives continue to be a major draw and feature a wealth of experiences and adventures as well as strict sanitisation and health protocols.