The New Indian Express 16.09.2010
Exploring waterways in Kochi
KOCHI: It was with a sense of relief that Kochiites welcomed the provision included in the budgetary speech of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac in March 2010. The Minister in his speech had announced that a scheme under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was on the cards under which the state was planning to introduce 40 boats for ferry services in Kochi. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 5 crore was provided to the State Water Transport Department for the purchase of new boats and ` 6 crore was earmarked for the renovation of barges and jetties. The proposals and allocations made in the budget have brightened the prospects of utilising and improving the untapped potential of waterways in the city. Kochi is perhaps the only city in India with such a wide network of water bodies linking various places and suburbs to the city centre. At present, 12 of the 16 local bodies, including the Kochi Corporation within the urban agglomeration area of the city, have licensed ferry services. As per the data provided by the Canal Department, the Government of Kerala, these 12 local bodies together operate 30 different ferry services connecting various places to the city centre. The ferry system includes country craft carriers, junkar services and motor boats. These water transport systems are cheap, sustainable and eco-friendly. Moreover, the journey through the beautiful waterscape of Kochi is a visual treat to passengers.Issues to be addressed
According to a report submitted by NATPAC, the major reason for the improper utilisation of inland water transport in Kochi is the poor infrastructure facilities. “The lack of adequate and modern vessels is a major constraint. A majority of vessels conducting services in the public and private sectors run on obsolete technology,” the report said.
Some of the town planners are of the opinion that the major drawback of the ferry services is that the vessels, jetties, ticketing and access facilities are outdated. “Most of the boat jetties do not even have a roof. Even the Fort Kochi-Vypeen ferry and the ferries operated by the Kerala State Water Transport Department are not up to the mark,” complained West Kochi Passengers Association secretary S Padmanabha Mallya.
Another major issue is that like the motor vehicle industry, there are no organised and technologically advanced ferry boat manufacturing facilities in India. The existing ferry system needs to be modernised and should be incorporated with a properly planned and executed integrated public transport system.
Bettering inland navigation
According to Kochi Development Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan, the revamping of the existing structure, construction of new jetties and introduction of modernised ferry services are the solutions for the betterment of Kochi’s inland waterways system.
The NH-47 Kochi Bypass starts at Aroor where there is a railway station. The national waterway also touches Aroor and, hence, a terminal here would make the place an ideal tri-junction, which is well connected with three major means of transport.
“From Aroor, a chain of existing boat jetties can be modernised and revived along with the construction of new ones,” Sohan said.
The existing boat jetties at Edakochi, Kumbalam ferry, Kannanghat, Palluruthy, Kochangadi, Mattanchery, Customs, Fort Kochi, Fort Vypeen, Ochanthuruthu, Njarakkal, Edavanakkad, Cherai and Munambam on the western shore, and Kumbalam, Nettoor, Thevara, Perumanoor, Huzoor, Corporation, High Court, Ponnarimangalam, Mulavukad, Vaduthala, Chittoor, Cheranalloor, Eloor and Varappuzha on the eastern shore from Aroor can be developed and utilised for a proper inland water network in the city.
Services from boat jetties in West kochi, Vypeen, Kadamakudy, Mulavukad, Varappuzha and Eloor can converge at the Ernakulam Boat Jetty and vice versa.
Experts in the field said the boats on the route have to be standardised and should be equipped with modern facilities so as to make travelling a new experience for passengers.
“The existing boat jetties have to be aesthetically planned and built with the maximum facility for parking and should address the tidal effects, silting patterns and monsoon rain and wind,” Sohan said.
He said no serious study had been made in the past to tap the transport potential of Kochi’s waterways. “The major constraint is the dominance of road transport and motor vehicle industry. Even under the JNNURM scheme, only road transport projects are getting priority,” he said.
