Kochi: No second boat yet as visitors increase

Kochi: With the New Year celebrations starting, Fort Kochi is witnessing a surge in the number of visitors and most of the tourists travel to Vypeen through the ferry boat. But, despite the promise, the Corporation has failed to introduce a second boat in the route and the existing ferry boat ‘Fort Queen’ can carry only 150 passengers in a single trip and the result is a rush of waiting people at the jetty.  As the jhunkar has been temporarily suspended to facilitate construction of the mooring jetty for RO-RO vessels, Fort Queen is the only boat operating in the route.

“Though the Corporation invited tenders twice to introduce one more passenger boat, no individual or agency has responded to the tender. Now, passengers have to wait a long time at the jetty as the boat can carry only 150 passengers. The Corporation has given strict instructions against carrying more passengers than the actual capacity,” said Shainy Mathew, Corporation Town Planning Committee chairperson. Meanwhile, the passengers are upset over the civic body’s failure in addressing their travel woes.

“The civic body’s short-sighted planning has hit the normal functioning of the ferry service in the risky and busy Fort Kochi – Vypeen route. The 150-seater Fort Queen, operated by the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation is inadequate as the number of passengers is high, especially during the New Year tourist season. Being a busy and risky route, depending on a single boat in the route is not ideal. If the boat develops any technical glitches or needs any maintenance work, passengers will have to travel by bus which will take more than two hours to reach Vypeen,” said Francis Chammany of the Vypeen-Fort Kochi Ferry Passengers Association.

Strays, poor hygiene sully mood at Fort Kochi

New Year is almost here and tourists, from all parts of the world have started to come to one of the most sought after New Year celebration destinations in the country. A huge Pappanji is being readied which will be set on fire amid a festive spirit at the seafront area near Bastion Bungalow on New Year’s eve, a ritual reminiscent of the Portuguese colonial period. Like the previous year, the Kochi Biennale Foundation is spearheading the creation of Pappanji. 

Though tourists praise the hospitality and friendliness of local residents, they are concerned about poor hygiene, hawkers and street dog menace.

Though tourists praise the hospitality and friendliness of local residents, they are concerned about poor hygiene, hawkers and street dog menace. “The place could have been much better if it was cleaner, with more waste bins. People have to be more aware of using waste bins properly. Lack of basic facilities is the major problem,” said Jack from Thailand.

The traders and local residents also criticise the civic authorities for the failure in taking necessary steps to make the tourist spot clean and tourist-friendly. “If the Corporation is not keen on providing basic facilities, most of the tourists will never return to Fort Kochi and the heritage tourism destination will lose its prominence,” said Salim M, a local trader.

According to Antony Kureethara, former Corporation councillor, the New Year celebrations are low key due to various reasons. “Cyclone Ockhi and several other factors have dampened the spirit of celebrations, but the carnival and the annual cultural events are being organised without losing their charm,” he said.