Boat Pappy resumes service

Kochi: Temporary ferry boat ‘Pappy’ resumed services in the Fort Kochi-Vypeen section after two weeks on Friday with the Kochi Corporation entering into a direct agreement with the boat owner. “The boat resumed normal services from 6 am today. I entered into a direct agreement with corporation which would give me rent of Rs 5.50 lakh per month. The agreement is to operate the boat for another one to two moths till the under-construction boats of the corporation is rolled out,” said Alapuzha native Babu Varghese, the owner of ‘Pappy’. Though boat belongs to Mr Varghese, the earlier contract was between the corporation and George Manoj who was an intermediary in roping in the boat from Alapuzha post the Fort Kochi boat accident in August 2015.