CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches state's first water ambulance

Kochi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday launched the state’s first water ambulance, aimed at rescuing people in the event of a mishap and also to cater to islanders in times of emergencies, at Panavally near Aroor, around 20 kms from here. “Four more such boats will be soon be launched at Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Muhamma and Kollam. The boat has all medical equipment and facilities available in an ambulance. Trained personnel having experience in providing basic life-support treatment will be deployed,” Pinarayi Vijayan said at a function in Panavally where he also inaugurated a modern boat terminal constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.

Each of the 40-foot boats can accommodate 16 passengers and a three-member crew. It has a design speed of 12 knots instead of the normal boat speed of seven. Kochi-based Navgathi Marine Design and Constructions (P) Ltd is constructing the boats which would cost nearly Rs five crore. Meanwhile, the chief minister said he requested central aid in developing the state’s waterway and personally took up the issue with the Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari whom he called on recently.

“I requested central funds for the development of the Kovalam-Kollam and Kozhikode-Neeleshwaram waterway so as to facilitate goods movement besides boosting tourism. We agreed to the minister’s direction to include union officials too in the Special Purpose Vehicle formed for the project as part of financing the project,” he said. Earlier, Transport Minister A. K. Saseendran said two 120-passenger capacity fast ferry boats would be rolled out in the Vaikom-Ernakulam and Alappuzha-Kottayam sections next month. “The department has initiated an exercise to replace the existing fleet with modern boats in a phased manner.”