Kerala has launched the first of its kind water taxi service. The vehicle launched in the backwaters of Alappuzha, ferried passengers. The Catamaran diesel-powered craft has a seating capacity for 10 passengers, and is first in a series of 4 boats, that State Water Transport Department is planning to introduce. After feasibility study was done on the vehicle, the government ordered four of such boats to use them as taxi for the public service. The backwaters of Alappuzha is a major tourist region.