People’s representatives from West Kochi are not acting despite the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) not replacing the three wooden ferries shifted from Ernakulam to Vaikom and Panavally, causing hardships to commuters, the West Kochi Passengers’ Association has said.
“The shifting of these vessels made of teak has come as a surprise as the department had not added a single ferry in the busy Ernakulam-West Kochi sector in the past five years. This has resulted in half-a-dozen trips being curtailed during peak hours, affecting around 1,500 people daily. They have no other option but to wait for subsequent ferries or board congested buses which take over an hour to cover the distance,” said Padmanabha Mallya, association secretary.
The worst hit are workers, women, students etc., who depended on ferries to reach their destination. In the Assembly polls, people must vote only for candidates capable of improving water transport in the sector, he said, criticising SWTD officials for ‘unilaterally’ cancelling services.
The SWTD has come under fire for withdrawing a spare boat from the sector earlier this year, leaving commuters in the lurch whenever a ferry is withdrawn from service.
The passengers’ association has been demanding more ferries in the sector as they cover the distance in 20 minutes, compared to over an hour taken by buses which pass through narrow, congested roads. It also demanded measures to speed up repairs of boats so that the fleet is optimally used.
“Both officials and people’s representatives are turning a blind eye to the problems of commuters despite the manifold advantages of ferries over buses,” Mr. Mallya said.
