Private ferries may ride into Kochi backwaters soon

The foray of private ferries into the water transport sector is expected to usher in competition.

Fast, air-conditioned, solar-powered and WiFi-enabled private ferries might compete with a fleet of government-operated vessels with similar features in the greater Kochi area if the Planning Board’s suggestion on this count is incorporated in the Rs. 624-crore project.

The Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) that prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to modernise water transport in the area will incorporate changes in the report and submit it to the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) later this week, based on the Planning Board’s latest recommendations.

The foray of private boats into Kerala’s water transport sector would usher in competition, KMRL’s managing director Elias George, who is also chairman of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), said.

Kochi Corporation had sought the KMRL’s help and funding to execute the project that has been touted to lessen congestion on roads and to integrate the metro with road and waterway transport.

“Following a meeting held with stakeholders on Monday, the Board sought a roadmap from the KMRL detailing how the project will be executed, the timeline for each component such as purchasing boats, upgrading boat jetties, funds flow and mode of repaying Rs. 624-crore that is expected to be raised as loan from Germany or France. The State government is expected to pool in with 20 per cent of the project cost. We will give a detailed note to the Planning Board on Thursday, answering its queries,” Mr George said.

A team of officials from the German development bank, KfW, will visit the city on June 26 to apprise themselves of the project. Apart from KfW, French lending agency AFD too had offered to fund the comprehensive waterway project by providing long-term loan at less than two per cent interest.

Of the Rs. 624-crore loan expected, Rs. 200 crore will be used to purchase modern, fuel-efficient ferries. Another Rs. 200 crore will be spent on building or renovating boat terminals and for establishing or improving road connectivity to terminals. The rest of the funds will be used for dredging and allied aspects.

The UMTC had identified 15 major routes extending from Varapuzha in the city’s north-west to Pallikara in the east, passing through the boat terminal at Vyttila Mobility Hub, located in the city’s east.

Welcoming keen interest shown by the German and French agencies to provide loan, Mr. George said the tender for purchasing boats would be floated once there was finality on the loan.

Kochi Corporation’s Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K.J. Sohan said the aim was to have a boat terminal in each of the islands that surround Kochi.

“This will also open up immense scope for village tourism,” he said.