In his budget speech, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said that 40 boats would be purchased under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Apart from this, an additional Rs 5 crore would be allotted to the water transport department to purchase ferry boats.

The announcement is certainly a dream come true for the residents of Fort Kochi, Mattanchery and Vypeen. Due to shortage of boats most of the existing services to these areas are dangerously overcrowded.

The residents in these areas have been constantly demanding to restructure the ferry service in such a way as to introduce direct and frequent services between Mattanchery and Ernakulam via Willingdon Island, between Fort Kochi Customs Jetty and Ernakulam and between Corporation Jetty and Ernakulam. There is also the need to introduce ferry services to all destinations from Thoppumpady which is the terminating point for a large number of buses coming from places like Cherthala, Chellanam and Kannamali.

With the introduction of more boats these problems can be solved to a certain extent.

“During festive seasons the majority of boats will be overcrowded as most people going towards Fort Kochi mainly depend on ferry services as they are more economical, less time consuming and pleasant sans any smoke and noise pollution. The decision to introduce more boats is a positive development,” said development standing committee chairman K J Sohan.

At present there are boat services between Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Island and Vypeen jetties. With the introduction of more boats water transport can be extended to areas like Vyttila, Chambakkara, Udyogamandal, Edakochi and Palluruthy by constructing new jetties. With water transport getting an upward thrust traffic congestion in the city can also be reduced considerably.