Boating and ferry services at Pochavaram in Andhra Pradesh’s Chinturu revenue division will be suspended from October 26 as a possible cyclonic storm is expected to bring heavy rain and raise water levels in the Godavari river basin.
The precautionary order covers tourist boat services and ferry operations at the Pochavaram ferry point. Chinturu sub-collector and Integrated Tribal Development Agency project officer Chittapuli Narendra Padal said the suspension was necessary because the forecast weather conditions could create risks for passengers on the river.
According to the weather forecasts cited by the administration, a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning to coastal Andhra Pradesh and areas linked to the Godavari river basin.
The administration has directed boat operators, owners and officials concerned to comply strictly with the suspension order. All boating activities at Pochavaram will remain halted until further instructions are issued, Padal said.
The order has been issued under regulations associated with the Inland Vessels Act, 1917. The legal framework provides the basis for regulating inland vessel operations, including measures intended to protect passengers when weather and water conditions become unsafe.
Pochavaram’s boating and ferry services connect tourism and local movement with a river environment that can change rapidly during heavy rainfall. A rise in the Godavari’s water level, combined with thunderstorms, lightning and reduced operating visibility, can affect both tourist boats and ferry services. The suspension therefore applies to all boating activity at the ferry point rather than only to tourist operations.
The decision also places responsibility on operators and local officials to ensure that services do not resume while the order remains in force. The administration has not announced a date for reopening. Operations will restart only after further instructions are issued by the competent authorities.
The suspension follows a broader precautionary response to the developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal. The administration’s stated priority is passenger safety while the possible cyclonic storm and its effects on rainfall and river levels are being monitored.
