Kochi: Soon enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea or light refreshments during boat rides, reminiscent of the yesteryear services.
Kudumbashree Mission is set to run the 'snack stall' inside the newly launched fast ferry 'Vega 120', which started operation in the Vaikom-Ernakulam section from Monday.
"The Vaikom Municipality has promised to provide the service, and they are holding talks with the Kudumbashree Mission.
Initially, light snacks such as vada, banana fry and other light refreshments will be sold from the snack stall. If successful, we will also provide breakfast since the travel takes nearly two hours," said a senior SWTD official.
The makers, Kochi-based Navgathi Marine Design and Constructions, have set up a separate 'snack cabin' in the non-AC section of the boat that accommodates 80 passengers. Currently, such facility is provided only in the luxury boat deployed for tourists under the 'See Kuttanad' programme in Alappuzha.
"In earlier days, when water transport was the main mode of travel in the state, vendors used to sell tea or coffee or light snacks in services like Ernakulam-Kottappuram. Then the Ernakulam boat jetty was the most happening place. After that, road transport began to grow in share and subsequently such long-haul services stopped. Now, the water transport is again on the revival path with such long-haul services," said Subrahmanian N., a Vypeen native.
The SWTD authorities also have plans to provide free WiFi services for passengers of Vega.
"The necessary provisions are inbuilt. Now we're in talks with service providers. We're also planning LED TV on the boat while the music system is already there," the official said.
The fastest inland ferry, with 120-passenger capacity, boasts of facilities like CCTV cameras, two bio-toilets and fire alarms among others.
The boat has much stability, thanks to the catamaran-type design, and offers comfortable travel through the picturesque inland waterway.
