Even as the imbroglio over the operation of the roll on-roll off (ro-ro) vessels of the Kochi Corporation continues, the State government has intervened in the matter.
Minister for Ports Kadannappally Ramachandran has convened a meeting of the agencies concerned in Thiruvananthapuram on July 18 at 10 a.m. to discuss the issue. The government has asked Mayor Soumini Jain and her team of officials to be present at the meeting.
Incidentally, the corporation council had earlier asked the Mayor to write to the Chief Minister, Minister for Local Self Government, and the Minister for Ports seeking the government’s intervention in the issue.
The civic body was of the view that the Chief Minister should convene a meeting. However, the Minister for Ports will hold the meeting, said Ms. Jain.
Meanwhile, a meeting convened by K.V. Thomas, MP, here on Wednesday decided to evolve a programme for streamlining ro-ro services.
The stakeholder agencies, including the Kochi Corporation, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), Cochin Port Trust (CPT), and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) will look into various operational aspects of ro-ro services. Though the civic body had purchased two vessels, only one could be operated as the other had developed technical snags a few weeks ago.
The damaged vessel is yet to be repaired. Besides, shortage of technical hands had hit services.
KSINC had earlier written to the civic authorities for procuring emergency spare parts for the vessels, without which, it had cautioned, the services would be disrupted.
A single vessel undertakes 72 services a day. Meanwhile, the corporation will take steps to increase the number of services on Saturdays and Sundays. One more trained staffer will be appointed this month for operating the vessel, it was decided at the meeting.
Study on complaints
On complaints raised by KSINC regarding technical issues, mooring facility, and the reported presence of rocks near the berthing facility at Vypeen, the CPT said it would undertake a study on them.
A decision will be taken in consultation with the CPT chairman, officials told the meeting. The trust will also undertake auditing of services undertaken till now.
Meanwhile, CSL will look into complaints regarding the construction of the vessel, it was decided at the meeting. Besides Ms. Jain, Hibi Eden, MLA; Deputy Mayor T. J. Vinod, District Collector K. Mohammad Y. Safarulla; standing committee chairpersons A.B. Sabu, Shiny Mathew, Gracy Joseph, and V.K. Minimol; G. Vaidyanathan, chief engineer, Cochin Port Trust, and V. Raju, company secretary, KSINC, attended the meeting.
