Water transport still an issue for West Kochi

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsEven though the Minister for Power and Transport Aryadan Muhammed announced the new boat service to the West Kochi region, majority of the issues related to water transport in the area remain unaddressed. The important ones are to increase the frequency of daily trips and dredging related issues.Recently the West Kochi Passengers Association submitted a memorandum to increase the efficiency of water transport in the region to Aryadan Muhammed, MLAs Dominic Presentation and Hibi Eden and Corporation Mayor Tony Chammany.Following this, the Minister had announced a new boat service to West Kochi. But the service, which is now scheduled to start in September, may face some bottlenecks such as unavailability of boats and inadequate number of employees in the water transport department.Dominic Presentation MLA told ‘City Express’ that he would give directives to the department to start boat service with temporary employees.In his opinion it requires at least six employees to start the new boat service in September.DredgingHe further said that the dredging in the Mattanchery jetty will also start in September. But the lack of funds with the Irrigation Department may pose a major problem vis a vis proceeding with the work of dredging. The unavailability of small dredgers in the department is also creating problems. “If the Irrigation Department do not commence dredging by September, we will approach Cochin Port which did the work earlier,” he said.According to Aryadan Muhammad, Water Transport Department is incurring a loss of `1.5 crore, a year. The majority of the loss happens in Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts. The MLA also said that possibility for new trips seems to be bleak for want of adequate staff.“The government should create more posts in the Water Transport Department to address these problems, particularly in the West Kochi region. Besides, the department is running mainly on budgetary support,” he said.S Padmanabha Mallya, Secretary, West Kochi Passengers Association said that the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and West Kochi Passengers Association are all ready to take up the issues related to water transport in the west Kochi region to higher authorities.first published:January 01, 1970, 05:30 ISTlast updated:January 01, 1970, 05:30 IST
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Even though the Minister for Power and Transport Aryadan Muhammed announced the new boat service to the West Kochi region, majority of the issues related to water transport in the area remain unaddressed. The important ones are to increase the frequency of daily trips and dredging related issues.

Recently the West Kochi Passengers Association submitted a memorandum to increase the efficiency of water transport in the region to Aryadan Muhammed, MLAs Dominic Presentation and Hibi Eden and Corporation Mayor Tony Chammany.

Following this, the Minister had announced a new boat service to West Kochi. But the service, which is now scheduled to start in September, may face some bottlenecks such as unavailability of boats and inadequate number of employees in the water transport department.

Dominic Presentation MLA told ‘City Express’ that he would give directives to the department to start boat service with temporary employees.

In his opinion it requires at least six employees to start the new boat service in September.

Dredging

He further said that the dredging in the Mattanchery jetty will also start in September. But the lack of funds with the Irrigation Department may pose a major problem vis a vis proceeding with the work of dredging. The unavailability of small dredgers in the department is also creating problems. “If the Irrigation Department do not commence dredging by September, we will approach Cochin Port which did the work earlier,” he said.

According to Aryadan Muhammad, Water Transport Department is incurring a loss of `1.5 crore, a year. The majority of the loss happens in Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts. The MLA also said that possibility for new trips seems to be bleak for want of adequate staff.

“The government should create more posts in the Water Transport Department to address these problems, particularly in the West Kochi region. Besides, the department is running mainly on budgetary support,” he said.

S Padmanabha Mallya, Secretary, West Kochi Passengers Association said that the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and West Kochi Passengers Association are all ready to take up the issues related to water transport in the west Kochi region to higher authorities.