Kochi: The ferry service in the Vypeen-Fort Kochi section, stopped since Saturday last, is set to resume operation from this Thursday, bringing relief to hundreds of daily commuters. ‘Pappy’ stopped ferrying after it could not anchor at the Fort Kochi Jetty since a floating crane is stationed there to facilitate construction of Ro-Ro jhankar jetty.
However, the local residents protested against the authorities starting the construction work without making alternative arrangements. The Kochi Corporation on Tuesday held talks with the Tourism Department which gave its nod to use its boat jetty at Fort Kochi.
“The height of the tourism boat jetty is a slight worry, however, we will set up wooden poles there and make an arrangement so that the ferry service could be operated from there on a temporary basis. The work will take two days,” said Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod. The Corporation has started renovation works of the jhankar jetties at Fort Kochi and Vypeen at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore.
It aims at deploying the new Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-RO) vessels in the section by December. Currently, two jhankars are being operated in the Fort Kochi-Vypeen section. There are complaints the contractor has deployed vessels over 10 years old.
“The worst affected are the school children in the morning. The jhankars are witnessing a heavy rush and often these children are left out. We demand the ferry service be restored at the earliest,” said Francis Chammany, President, Vypeen Ferry Passengers Association.
