The new twin-engine boat constructed by the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) for the Kochi Corporation is likely to be ready for operation in the Vypeen-Fort Kochi route in less than a month.
The crucial inclination test of the boat, which was launched into waters by Mayor Soumini Jain on Monday, will be held on Wednesday. The test report is expected within ten days.
This will be followed by the commissioning of its engine and the trial run before the boat is pressed into service. The boat, with a capacity for carrying 146 passengers and four crew members, was constructed at a cost of ₹1.68 crore.
At present, the corporation has engaged a contractor to operate a boat in the route as a stopgap arrangement. “The contract is till the time the new boat is ready for operation,” said Shiny Mathew, chairperson, Town Planning Standing Committee of the corporation.
The corporation entered into the new contract directly with the boat owner recently after the boat owner withdrew the boat over disagreements with the contractor originally engaged by the civic body.
The KSINC has given a one-year performance guarantee for the boat covering everything other than operational wear and tear. Though no decision has been taken on the annual maintenance contract, KSINC sources said they were well equipped if the corporation entrusted it with that assignment. The KSINC may also get involved in the first few months of the operation to help the crew familiarise with its functioning. Meanwhile, passengers have expressed concern over the ‘indecision’ on the part of the corporation on how it plans to operate the service.
“We want the corporation to either directly operate the service with permanent or casual staff or entrust it with a public sector agency like the KSINC rather than roping in private contractors. However, the corporation seems to be dithering from taking a decision, which gives the impression that it wants to delay it till the last minute before assigning it to some contractor without proper tendering,” said Francis Chammany, president, Vypeen-Fort Kochi Ferry Passengers Association.
Even if private contractors were to be roped in, the formalities should be initiated at the earliest to ensure a level-playing field, he said.
KSINC sources said that the corporation had not yet communicated with the agency on how it planned to operate the service.
