Lakshadweep Travel Becomes Costlier as Administration Hikes Fares Without Notice

Kochi: The Lakshadweep administration has sharply increased ship fares without prior warning, sparking widespread criticism from islanders already facing serious transport challenges. The revised ticket rates, with a hike of over 42%, came into effect from Sunday, significantly increasing travel expenses for residents and others commuting to and from the islands.
The bunk seat fare from Kochi to Kavaratti has gone up from Rs 330 to Rs 470. Second-class ticket prices have increased from Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,820. First-class fares have jumped from Rs 3,510 to Rs 4,920, and the new VIP ticket price has been fixed at Rs 8,560. The fare hike extends to high-speed vessels as well. From Kochi to Androth, islanders must now pay Rs 510, while non-residents are charged Rs 3,500. The rates for Kalpeni are Rs 510 for locals and Rs 3,450 for others.
Despite this steep fare revision, passengers allege that the administration has not taken any parallel steps to improve onboard facilities. On a recent occasion, 750 passengers were left stranded after the MV Kavaratti service was cancelled without prior notice.
From Seven Ships to Just Two

The transport crisis has worsened with only two operational ships—MV Kavaratti and MV Corals—now servicing the vital Kochi–Lakshadweep route. Previously, seven vessels were in operation. With just four services per week, the current capacity is limited to 1,152 passengers in total, falling far short of the demand. This shortage has led to severe disruption in the supply of essential commodities to the islands, resulting in inflation and scarcity.
Five ships—Lakshadweep Sea, Arabian Sea, MV Lagoon, MV Amini, and MV Minicoy—remain docked for repairs at shipyards in Mumbai and Kochi, inactive for several months. The ongoing disruption in ship services has pushed the daily life of Lakshadweep residents into crisis, said CPI(M) Lakshadweep local secretary Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, who added that urgent government intervention is needed to restore normalcy.
The Lakshadweep administration is currently headed by Praful Khoda Patel, a former Gujarat minister and BJP leader, who was appointed as Administrator in December 2020. Since his appointment, several policy decisions have led to protests and resentment among island residents, with concerns raised over decisions made without adequate consultation or consideration of local needs.