Renowned Uru maker Chirayil Sadhasivan offers to revive Kerala's centuries-old boating industry

Beypore: Noted Uru maker Chirayil Sadhasivan has offered his services to revive the centuries-old boating industry in Kerala if the state government is open to leasing lands for the establishment of new yards dedicated to crafting wooden dhows (sailing vessels) in Beypore.

Sadhasivan, who had presented a request to the government, expressed the prospect of building yards in Beypore, Ponnani and Kannur. For the past several years, two construction yards in Beypore have been manufacturing Urus. Both these yards depend upon the orders coming from Gulf countries. 

Meanwhile, Sadhasivan has suggested a slew of measures to revive the industry, including a tourism project offering rides on Uru from Kasaragod to Kanyakumari. He points out that Uru can ferry passengers between Kerala and Lakshadweep. 

Additionally, shipping freight by Uru would be more profitable than using highways. The assistance of investors and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) could be utilised for establishing more construction yards in the Malabar region, he added.