Sri Vijaya Puram, May 13: The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) has announced the release of unutilized reserved quota tickets for the scheduled sailing of the passenger vessel MV Swaraj Dweep from Sri Vijaya Puram to Chennai on May 14, offering another opportunity for passengers waiting to secure seats on the mainland route.
According to the information issued on Tuesday, any surrendered or unutilized tickets from the reserved category will be made available to the general public from 9 am onwards on May 13. The move is expected to benefit last-minute travellers and passengers who were earlier unable to obtain confirmed bookings due to high demand on the Chennai sector.
Passengers have been advised that tickets can be booked online through the official DSS e-ticketing portal. The administration has also continued the facility of offline bookings through STARS ticketing counters operating in the islands. Authorities said QR codes linked directly to the booking portal have also been provided to make access easier for users.
The Chennai route remains one of the busiest sea passenger sectors connecting the islands with mainland India, particularly for students, patients, government employees, traders and families travelling for education, medical treatment and personal commitments. Release of surrendered quota tickets often sees long queues and increased online activity as passengers attempt to secure seats before sailing.
In a separate announcement, DSS informed that the vessel MV Campbell Bay is scheduled to sail from Kolkata to Sri Vijaya Puram on May 16 at 4 pm.
Passenger tickets for the Kolkata-Sri Vijaya Puram voyage will also be opened to the general public from 9 am onwards on May 13. Similar to other DSS sailings, passengers can complete bookings through the online e-ticketing system or purchase tickets physically through STARS ticketing counters.
The Kolkata route serves as another critical maritime link for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, particularly for movement of residents, business travellers and cargo-linked passengers between eastern India and the islands. With limited sailings and heavy dependency on ship services for affordable travel, ticket availability often becomes a major concern among island residents.
The DSS e-ticketing system was introduced to streamline bookings and reduce crowding at counters, especially during high-demand periods. However, despite the digital facility, many passengers still depend on physical ticketing counters due to connectivity issues, payment failures or lack of digital access in remote areas.
Shipping services continue to remain a lifeline for the islands, particularly for those who cannot afford air travel. Demand for passenger ship tickets generally increases during vacation periods, academic admissions, medical referral movements and festival seasons.
Authorities have urged passengers to verify sailing schedules and ticket availability only through official DSS channels. Travellers have also been advised to complete bookings early and carry valid identity documents during ticket purchase and boarding formalities.
The DSS e-ticketing portal for both sailings can be accessed through DSS E-Ticketing Portal.
