The Puthenvelikkara panchayat governing committee has slapped a show-cause notice on the contractor of the ferry, from which a car slipped into the water, killing its driver on Friday.
The ferry was on its way from Stationkadavu to VP Thuruth when the mishap occurred.
The contractor, V.T. Joshy, has been asked to explain within a week the alleged violation of an agreement with the panchayat, according to which three and four-wheelers are not allowed to be ferried.
Meanwhile, the panchayat authorities summoned the contractor on Monday and told him that the service should be operated in strict compliance with all safety parameters as well as the agreement.
The governing committee had met soon after the accident to take stock of the safety threats to the ferry service.
Directive issued
“The decisions taken by the governing committee were conveyed to the contractor. At present, the service is operated by fortifying just two sides of the ferry using iron chains. Direction has been issued to fortify all four sides and to avoid overcrowding,” Puthenvelikkara panchayat president P.V. Laju said.
Mr. Laju said that a delegation from the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK), which had built temporary boat jetties on rented land, would visit the panchayat on Tuesday.
The panchayat, and the RBDCK will also conduct a joint inspection, based on which the boat jetties will be renovated, Mr. Laju added.
A junkar service on the route was suspended in the face of operational hurdles following the launch of the construction of the Stationkadavu-VP Thuruth Bridge by the RBDCK.
The panchayat had to opt for an alternative arrangement in view of the large number of commuters on the route.
However, the initial tender inviting interested parties to operate the service had failed to evoke response, forcing the panchayat to approach contractors.
Mr. Laju said the construction of the bridge would resume on Wednesday.
Violation of agreement banning ferrying of
four-wheelers
Construct of bridge to resume tomorrow
