KOCHI: A special meeting of the city corporation council on Tuesday approved the detailed project report (DPR) of the Cochin Shipyard for a Ro-Ro service on the Fort Kochi – Vypeen route and a proposal to set up a modern abattoir in Mattancherry.
Although opposition councillors were against seeking external funding for the Ro-Ro service, Mayor Tony Chammany said the civic body was in good financial health and could repay loans taken for the project. “ It has to be implemented as the existing ferry service on the Vypeen – Fort Kochi route is in a dangerous condition,” he stressed.
CPM councilor, K.V Manoj was , however, not convinced, arguing that taking on such a big project could prove a financial liability for the civic body.
A Ro-Ro vessel will cost Rs 3.8 crore and the civic body plans to purchase two of them, with assistance from either the Kerala Urban And Rural Development Finance Corporation or other agencies.
Both the Cochin University of Science and Technology and Cochin Shipyard had submitted draft DPRs , but the corporation council found the latter’s project report more technically feasible.
Meanwhile, the modern abattoir planned in place of the existing slaughtering facility at Mattancherry will have modern equipment to provide healthy and hygienic meat to the people.
A government approved agency, M/S Virgo Aqua, has submitted the DPR, tender document and design estimate of the abattoir, which will be built in public private participation mode.
The proposal will be forwarded to the PPP cell of the state government for approval, according to the Mayor. Consultant, Dr. Abraham, who has been instrumental in setting up modern slaughterhouses across the country, will be taken on as technical advisor.
