India’s first solar fishing boats to be ready by Dec 2021 in Kerala

31 Aug 2021 CW Team

India’s first solar fishing boats will be ready by December 2021 at Vypeen and Munambam in Kerala.

Five boats are in different development stages funded by the independent charity arm of British-Dutch petroleum company, Shell Foundation, and NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats is the startup that does the work.

Sandith Thandasherry, CEO of NavAlt, told the media that there are more than 2.5 lakh small fishing boats in India and 1.13 tonnes of CO2 are released/tonne of live weight of marine fish netted. He said that initially, the Shell Foundation is backing the project with Rs 1.5 crore, which includes the developing cost of the boats and financing the buyers to cover the extra cost compared to a traditional boat.

NavAlt stood out and made headlines when it launched a solar water taxi and the first solar ferry in Kerala in the country. Thandasherry also said that a conventional small boat would consume 2,500 litres of fuel/year, which results in 5-6 tonnes of carbon emissions or year according to the estimates, and it gives the size of carbon emission, which is massive in terms of environmental impact multiplied by 2.5 lakh boats in India.

He said that it is a hurdle to convince fisherfolk to switch to a new technology with which they are unfamiliar and that he went to Gujarat in 2013 to understand the needs of the fishermen.

NavAlt plans to sell its solar ones at Rs 10 lakh while a conventional boat costs around Rs 2.5 lakh. Thandasherry told the media that they told the Shell Foundation that if they could help find the financing to pay the difference of 7.5 lakh, the fisherman could pay back the sum as EMI rather than the fuel bills. So they would have a better life right from the first day.

Additionally, he said that the net income of a typical boat owner is less because of fuel bills that come to Rs 2.5 lakh a year.

NavAlt also required finances from Shell Foundation to scale up the project so that the cost of the boat can be brought down from the manufacturing cost of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. NavAlt is also engaged in electric motor development for boats.

Image Source

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

India’s first solar fishing boats will be ready by December 2021 at Vypeen and Munambam in Kerala. Five boats are in different development stages funded by the independent charity arm of British-Dutch petroleum company, Shell Foundation, and NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats is the startup that does the work. Sandith Thandasherry, CEO of NavAlt, told the media that there are more than 2.5 lakh small fishing boats in India and 1.13 tonnes of CO2 are released/tonne of live weight of marine fish netted. He said that initially, the Shell Foundation is backing the project with Rs 1.5 crore, which includes the developing cost of the boats and financing the buyers to cover the extra cost compared to a traditional boat. NavAlt stood out and made headlines when it launched a solar water taxi and the first solar ferry in Kerala in the country. Thandasherry also said that a conventional small boat would consume 2,500 litres of fuel/year, which results in 5-6 tonnes of carbon emissions or year according to the estimates, and it gives the size of carbon emission, which is massive in terms of environmental impact multiplied by 2.5 lakh boats in India. He said that it is a hurdle to convince fisherfolk to switch to a new technology with which they are unfamiliar and that he went to Gujarat in 2013 to understand the needs of the fishermen. NavAlt plans to sell its solar ones at Rs 10 lakh while a conventional boat costs around Rs 2.5 lakh. Thandasherry told the media that they told the Shell Foundation that if they could help find the financing to pay the difference of 7.5 lakh, the fisherman could pay back the sum as EMI rather than the fuel bills. So they would have a better life right from the first day. Additionally, he said that the net income of a typical boat owner is less because of fuel bills that come to Rs 2.5 lakh a year. NavAlt also required finances from Shell Foundation to scale up the project so that the cost of the boat can be brought down from the manufacturing cost of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. NavAlt is also engaged in electric motor development for boats. Image Source

Real Estate

04 Sep 2025

Mumbai Records 11,230 Property Deals in August 2025

Mumbai’s property market remained resilient in August 2025, with 11,230 property registrations recorded under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) jurisdiction, according to data released by Knight Frank India. While this marks a 3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline compared to 11,631 registrations in August 2024, activity stayed robust despite the marginal dip.On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, registrations fell 11 per cent from 12,579 deals in July 2025, indicating seasonal moderation. However, the city’s stamp duty collections still reached Rs 10 billion, reflecting a 6 per cent..

Infrastructure Transport

04 Sep 2025

68 Jammu-Katra Trains Cancelled Amid Rain Damage

Jammu and Katra railway services remain severely affected as Northern Railway announced the cancellation of 68 trains—both incoming and outgoing—until 30 September, due to extensive track damage caused by heavy rains and flash floods. Meanwhile, 24 trains are scheduled to resume operations gradually.The Jammu railway division has experienced a complete halt in services for the past eight days, following track misalignment and breaches at several points along the Pathankot–Jammu section. Torrential rainfall since 26 August led to widespread flooding and damage, stranding hundreds of passe..

Infrastructure Transport

04 Sep 2025

Bangalore Metro MD Reviews Reach 6 and Phase 2A Progress

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Managing Director, Dr J Ravishankar, IAS, conducted inspections of key metro corridors on 29 and 30 August, reviewing the progress of Reach 6 (Pink Line) and Phase 2A (Blue Line).On 30 August, the inspection covered Reach 6, a 21.39-km corridor stretching from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, with 18 stations. This stretch is part of Phase 2 of the Bangalore Metro project. Dr Ravishankar assessed the status of civil works, finishing, track laying, and system integration between Kalena Agrahara and MG Road.Earlier, on 29 August, the MD inspected Phas..