Kochi's inland water transport gets boost

Kochi: In a boost to Inland water transportation, the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) aims to start fast ferry services in the Vytilla-Fort Kochi sector by January next.  Simultaneously, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has finalized the ground work and is set to float the Expression of Interest (EoI) for its ambitious ‘Water Metro Project’ by next week. “It’s a separate project but wholly funded by us. The catamaran type fiberglass boat is under construction at Timblo Dry dock in Goa and is in its final stages. The boat, having a passenger capacity of 100 people, will be rolled out by December and we aim to conduct the service from Vytilla to Fort Kochi via the Thevara-Mattancharry route,” a senior KSINC official said.

The KSINC has also started construction of another twin-engine Fibreglass boat for the Kochi Corporation which is targeted to be rolled out in six months. The Rs 1.5-crore vessel will be deployed in the Fort Kochi-Vypeen route that cuts across the 14-metre shipping canal. Meanwhile, the EoI for the Rs 747-crore Water Metro Project will be finalized and floated next week. “The first step will be the selection of General Consultant (GC) for the project. We have shortlisted five global agencies from among 15 firms that had submitted the EoI. A final selection will be made next week. The GC will further decide on matters like final boat specification, route and land acquisition of infrastructure. The whole process will take three months,” a senior official said.

The State Water Transport too is set to launch a fast ferry service in the Vytilla-Vaikom section. “Boat construction is currently progressing after an Aroor-based agency bagged the Rs 1.70 crore project for the catamaran-type twin-engine boat with a passenger capacity of 120 people. The hull is already complete and work on the super-structure works is progressing. The service could be started in another six months,” said SWTD director Shaji V. Nair.