Parking facility goes underutilised

"The facility was developed at an expense of Rs. 4 crore and only a small chunk of its capacity is being utilised"

Goods carriers, including container lorries,are parked along the flanks of the road onWillingdon Island.- Photo: H. Vibhu

Even as the Cochin Port Trust is looking for a developer for a parking facility for container lorries on Vallarpadam Island, the agencies that developed a parking lot near Mattancherry Halt is witnessing the underutilisation of the five-acre facility.

“The facility was developed at an expense of Rs. 4 crore and only a small chunk of its capacity is being utilised now,” said president of the Cochin Steamer Agents’ Association, Prakash Iyer.

He said lorries, both goods carriers and container carriers, were parked along the sides of the roads near the area, but not inside the parking facility.

The facility is being operated by the Steamer Agents’ Association and the Cochin Customs House Agents’ Association.

The parking facility was developed ahead of the Volvo Ocean Race halt in Kochi towards the end of 2008 in order to relieve the Willingdon Island of any possible congestion.

Police blamed

Chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority N. Venugopal blamed the city police for the state of affairs. He said more than the port authority, the traffic police should intervene to force the lorries off their current parking places along the flanks of roads.

Meanwhile, the Port Trust is learnt to have zoomed in on a company for operating the parking facility on Bolghatty Island. The land is being handed over to the selected party for a period of 30 years on lease for a full-fledged parking facility for container lorries.