KOCHI: The uncertainty over the starting of Ro-Ro services of the Kochi Corporation is lingering with no time-frame set for the construction of mooring jetty at Fort Kochi. The civic body is suffering huge losses due to the delay in the starting the services. The delay in resolving the issue has snowballed into a political controversy with the Left leaders from west Kochi protesting against the civic body's 'myopic planning' and questioning the need for constructing mooring facility. The RO-RO vessels can be safely docked at the existing jetty, which was recently renovated at a cost of Rs.1 crore, said K.J Antony, opposition leader in the council. "It is the short-sighted planning of the civic administration which resulted in the delay and uncertainty over launching the modern and faster RO-RO vessels. It is not clear whether the mooring facility was there in detailed project report," he added.
The Corporation has already paid the total project cost to the Port Trust before completing the jetty construction works, which is not the normal practice. "Since, the works have not been completed the Corporation will have to bear the additional expense for the remaining works," said Benedict Fernandez, CPM councillor. Though Mayor Soumini Jain held several rounds of negotiation meeting with the representatives of political parties and ferry passengers' association, no consensus has yet been reached.
"A final round of negotiation meeting will be convened with protesters on Monday after which construction of mooring facility will begin. The project can't be delayed further as the RO-RO vessels are kept at the Cochin Shipyard," said Ms. Jain. Meanwhile, a section of local residents and regular passengers are against the temporary suspension of the existing jhankar service to facilitate the construction of mooring jetty.
