mangaluru lakshadweeps society for promotion of nature tourism and sports sports has urged dakshina kannada district administration to strengthen the tourism bond between the island and the coastal city sports has introduced a cruise service between lakshadweep and mangaluru with a capacity to ferry 150 passengers to kavaratii and back however the infrastructure at the cruise lounge in mangaluru is not up to the mark lack of an entry permit approval centre hinders people from the coastal city to travel to lakshadweep haji p pookunhi assistant general manager sports met dakshina kannada deputy commissioner a b ibrahim on thursday he urged the dc to develop the infrastructure at old port in the city from where the vessel mv amin div leaves for lakshadweep currently our cruise vessel leaves mangaluru once in four days we are ready to introduce more vessels if dakshina kannada district authorities provide more facilities there is no shelter or cruise lounge for passengers at old port which is also a cargo harbor where construction materials and other goods are loaded into ships a cruise lounge with the necessary infrastructure needs to be developed to attract more tourists pookunhi said mv amin div has a capacity of 150 passengers and tickets cost rs 240 for economy class and rs 400 for upper class he said adding that the frequency of service may be increased if the infrastructure at the old port is developed on par with other ports on obtaining entry permit pookunhi said at present sports has made arrangements to obtain entry permits through their centre in kochi we will be able to issue entry permits in mangaluru if both administrations come to an agreement he added sports is a society formed by the lakshadweep administration in 1982 to promote tourism and to act as the nodal agency for the same he said adding that lakshadweep administrator h rajesh prasad is the chairman of sports dc ibrahim said he will make arrangements to hold a meeting of sports representatives and stakeholders soon let lakshadweep administration send a detailed letter we will look into all issues and make arrangements he added