Indra is a premium, air-conditioned, double-decker catamaran designed for sustainable water transport, primarily ferrying tourists along the backwaters. It offers seating for 100 passengers and a semi-open space on the upper deck. The decision on whether the ferry will operate in Ernakulam or Alappuzha is awaited, and it is manufactured by Navalt Solar and Electric Boats.
Powered by two 20 kW electric motors and supported by two independent marine-grade LFP battery packs, Indra can reach a top speed of seven knots. Its 25 kW solar panels charge the batteries and support auxiliary loads, making it an ideal mix of efficiency and sustainability. The 26-meter long and seven-meter wide vessel was launched by Irrigation Minister Roshy Augustine at the IWAI terminal in Punnamada, Alappuzha, with several officials present.
In an ambitious initiative, the SWTD has commissioned Navalt to build 16 solar-electric boats, including orders for 14 solar-electric ferries and a pair of solar-electric roll-on-roll-off vessels, aiming to usher in an era of clean, efficient, and responsible water transport by early 2024.
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