The State Water Transport department (SWTD) added another feather to its crown on Friday when it inaugurated Indra in Alappuzha, supposedly the largest solar-electric ferry in India.
"As a luxurious, air-conditioned, double-decker catamaran, Indra is proof of the dedication to environmentally friendly water transportation. The main purpose of it would be to transport visitors through the backwaters. There are 100 seats available, and there is a semi-open area for passengers on the upper deck, according to SWTD sources.
Whether to run the boat in Ernakulam or Alappuzha is still up for debate. Aditya, the solar ferry operated by the SWTD, has earned awards. In 2020, it was recognised with the prestigious Gussies Electric Boat Award. Navalt Solar and Electric Boats, which has a yard off Aroor, is the company that made Aditya and Indra.
Indra can reach a maximum speed of seven knots (12 kmph) with the two separate 40 kWh marine-grade LFP battery packs and twin 20 kW electric motors. The batteries are charged and auxiliary loads are supported by its 25 kW solar panels. According to the sources, the boat offers a flawless 10-hour cruise experience and presents the perfect balance of sustainability and efficiency.
A decision on the ferry's operation at Ernakulam or Alappuzha, is still pending. Having taken up the prestigious Gussies Electric Boat Award in 2020, the solar ferry Aditya from the SWTD has garnered praise. Navalt Solar and Electric Boats constructed Aditya and Indra. The yard is situated off the coast of Aroor.
With two separate 40 kWh marine-grade LFP battery packs supporting it, the vehicle can reach a peak speed of seven knots (12 kmph) thanks to its twin 20 kW electric motors. Both the batteries and auxiliary loads are charged by its 25 kW solar panels. Per the sources, the boat presents an optimal combination of sustainability and efficiency, ensuring a smooth 10-hour cruising trip.
Roshy Augustine, the Minister of Irrigation, launched the 26-meter-long and seven-meter-wide vessel at the IWAI terminal in Punnamada, Alappuzha. Those in attendance were Director of SWTD Shaji V. Nair, A.M. Arif, MP, and Transport Minister Antony Raju. They continued their journey within the ship.
As part of a bold project, the SWTD had assigned Navalt the responsibility of building sixteen solar-powered boats. Among these are orders for two solar-electric roll-on/roll-off vessels and fourteen solar-electric ferries. The goal is to bring in a new age of responsible, effective, and clean water transportation. According to reliable sources, they would operate in Ernakulam and Alappuzha starting in early 2024.
