All arrangements in place for 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Keralam

All arrangements in place for 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Keralam Chief Minister V.D.

Key points

• Security will be tight, with around 1, 700 police personnel, including 17 DySPs and 45 inspectors, deployed for the event.
• Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K.
• While the prize capital for the winner has been raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹25 lakh, the bonus and maintenance grant for participating clubs have been rose by 25%.
• Tickets are being sold through administration offices in five districts and online through the official website of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society.

All arrangements in place for 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Keralam Chief Minister V.D. After the morning heats for smaller boats starting at 11 a.m, satheesan will inaugurate the event at 2 p.m. On August 22. Seventy-one boats, including 22 snake boats, are vying for victory. Published – August 20, 2026 06: 26 pm IST – ALAPPUZHA.

Notably, the races will commence at 11 a.m. With heats for the smaller boats. Photo Credit: FILE Photo.

Notably, the oars are ready, the boats are tuned and Punnamada is bracing for another fierce battle as 71 boats take to the waters for the 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Saturday (August 22, 2026). Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the event at 2 p.m.

Notably, the races will commence at 11 a.m. With heats for the smaller boats. After the inaugural ceremony, the heats for the 22 snake boats and finals of the smaller boat categories will be held. The finals will commence at 4 p.m. Besides the snake boat race, competitions will be held in the churulan, iruttukuthi A, iruttukuthi B, iruttukuthi C, veppu A, veppu B, thekkanodi thara and thekkanodi kettu categories.

Meanwhile, the snake boat category will have six heats and the four boats recording the fastest times will qualify for the Nehru Trophy final. Winners in the smaller boat categories will be decided based on finishing times.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Excise Minister M. Liju, Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh and K.C. Venugopal, MP, will additionally be present.

For the first time, the conduct of the NTBR has been entrusted to an event management group, with the aim of giving the water festival a more professional and colourful makeover. A colour theme has additionally been introduced this year.

According to the organisers, the ticket sales have surged, with a number of categories already sold out. While a ₹1 lakh corporate box ticket has been introduced for the first time, District Collector Shaji V, tickets priced at ₹2, 500 and ₹3, 000 are no longer available. Nair remarked.

While the prize capital for the winner has been raised from ₹2 lakh to ₹25 lakh, the bonus and maintenance grant for participating clubs have been rose by 25%. Around ₹2.80 crore will be required for bonuses and prize funds alone. While organisers expect to receive a tourism grant from the Union administration this year as well, the State administration has confirmed a ₹2-crore grant for the boat race.

Separate jetties have been designated for different categories of guests. VVIPs will be ferried from the Lake Palace jetty, corporate and platinum ticket holders from the Maliekkal jetty, gold and silver ticket holders from the Matha jetty, and municipal councillors and complimentary pass holders from the Rajiv jetty.

Notably, the rule limiting participation by rowers from outside Keralam to 25% and the stipulation that only palm-leaf oars be applied will be strictly enforced. Violations could lead to cuts in bonus payments and bans from future races. A mechanised starting system and photo-finish system have additionally been installed.

Tickets are being sold through administration offices in five districts and online through the official website of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society. Federal Bank, State Bank of India and Kerala Grameen Bank have provided payment gateway facilities.

Extra buses and boats have been arranged for spectators. KSRTC will operate special services from neighbouring districts to Alappuzha in the morning and return services in the evening. Its budget cell has additionally arranged a special package tour and assist desk for visitors.

Security will be tight, with around 1, 700 police personnel, including 17 DySPs and 45 inspectors, deployed for the event. Shadow police teams will additionally be on duty.

Unauthorised boats will be barred from the race track and adjoining canals. The area within a two-km radius of the venue has been declared a temporary red zone for drones, and strict action will be taken against unauthorised flights.

Only valid pass holders will be allowed into the galleries. Strict action will be taken against those ferrying spectators without valid passes. Spectators heading to the pavilion have been advised to arrive by 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, the excitement has already begun to build at Punnamada, with sizeable crowds gathering at the Punnamada finishing point and other locations over the last two weeks to watch training sessions and track-entry exercises. The race is additionally giving a boost to Alappuzha's tourism sector, with robust bookings documented for houseboats and resorts ahead of the event.

Meanwhile, a local holiday has been declared in all administration offices and educational institutions in Alappuzha district on Saturday. Public examinations will be held as scheduled.

In short, all arrangements in place for 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Keralam is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.