Alappuzha gears up for 71st Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Alappuzha: The stage is set for the 71st edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), to be held on August 30 at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. The district administration and organisers confirmed on Friday that all preparations have been completed for the annual spectacle, which enjoys a massive following across Kerala.

This year’s regatta will see the participation of 71 boats, including 21 Chundan Vallams (snake boats), 37 Iruttukuthy boats across three categories, three Churulan boats, eight Veppu boats, and one each of Thekkanodi Thara and Tekkanodi Kettu boats.

The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for 2 pm, with races for smaller boats starting at 11 am. The main event, the snake boat race, will be contested in six heats: four boats each in the first four groups, three in the fifth, and two in the sixth. The four fastest boats across the heats will qualify for the grand final.

For the first time, organisers have introduced a new time-lapse recording system capable of capturing millisecond differences in finishing times. Temporary spectator galleries have been erected, pavilion maintenance completed, and safety inspections carried out.

Entry to the galleries will be restricted to those with valid passes, with hologram-stamped tickets prepared by C-DIT to prevent duplication. The district administration has declared a holiday in Alappuzha for the event.

Police have prohibited roadside parking in the city and banned drone flying over the venue. Additional personnel have been deployed to ensure crowd safety, while the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will run extra services for spectators. Patrolling will also be carried out to prevent speedboats from entering the race track.