One of the roll-on, roll-off vessels, owned by the Kochi Corporation and operated by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, had to be taken out of service after it developed a technical fault. , Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
According to civic officials, a roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) vessel will operate between Fort Kochi and Bolgatty Island from January 23.
Passenger and vehicular traffic has been affected due to disruption of Ro-Ro service. One of the vessels, owned by Kochi Corporation and operated by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), had to be taken out of service after it developed a technical fault, adding to the hardship of those who were using it. convenience.
A section of councillors, including those from the opposition, had demanded action against the Navigation Corporation for failing to operate the vessels and sought immediate steps to resume the service. The issue was raised by several councilors in the Kochi Municipal Council meeting.
Mayor M. Anilkumar also raised the issue and wrote to the Managing Director of KSINC to take steps to resume the service.
Incidentally, councilors of the United Democratic Front had organized a protest meeting at the Kochi Corporation office with this demand. The councilors also gheraoed the Kochi Corporation Secretary on Saturday, demanding steps to remove the problems of the commuters. The councilors were led by Congress leader Antony Kurithara and MG Aristotle.
Reacting to the development, Secretary, Kochi Corporation, M. Babu Abdul Khadeer said the managing director of KSINC had assured the civic body that a supplementary service of the vessel between Fort Kochi and Bolgatty would start from Monday. The civic authorities were in regular touch with the agency to resume the service. He said that the problems faced by the passengers including delay in bringing the patients to the city by ambulances have been brought to the notice of the authorities.
KSINC was of the view that it could not operate ships in economically unviable routes. It did not include the Fort Kochi-Bolagatti route in the list. However, the civic body insisted that the ship should be operated on the route in view of public demand, Mr Khadir said.