Kochi: Panic gripped commuters as smoke billowed out of the barge temporarily deployed for conducting Fort Kochi-Vypeen ferry service on Monday, resulting in the cancellation of trips till evening.
The smoke detector alarm went off as soon as the refitted barge started operations on day two. With the tragedy fresh in their minds, the passengers panicked but it reached the Fort Kochi jetty without further trouble.
“The exhaust line was cut off with the plastic wastes and weed blocking it, resulting in smoke in the engine room. The services were cancelled and the barge taken to the Sea Blue Shipyard immediately to carry out repairs. The service could be restarted by 4.30 pm. Unlike other boats, the barge is fitted with a smoke detector,” said a boat crew.
The Kochi Corporation would write to the Cochin Shipyard to fasten the construction of modern roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels that could accommodate nearly 50 passengers besides the vehicles.
“The first ro-ro is scheduled to be delivered by March. We’ll write requesting to hasten up the construction, considering the circumstances. The barge hired is operated on a temporary basis for two months. The corporation will soon convene a meet to decide whether to buy a fresh boat or hire another till the ro-ro is made available,” said a senior official.
The corporation plans to stop the ferry service once the air-conditioned ro-ro starts operations.
“The ro-ro is designed in such a way that the commuters too can travel. There would be no time lost as vehicles can easily be loaded and unloaded, unlike the jankars. Then there will be no need for the ferry services, saving lakhs of rupees in terms of crew and operational expenses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Vypeen Boat Passengers Association demanded that the corporation convene a council meet at the earliest and approve the decision to buy a new boat to conduct services on the route cutting across the shipping canal.
