The crucial Vypeen-Fort Kochi ferry route has transformed into a hub of public discontent, with daily commuters and community leaders pointing fingers at the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC). They accuse the agency of severe mismanagement and are now demanding that the Kochi Municipal Corporation step in to directly operate the roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel service.
Core Issues: Unskilled Labour and Operational Failures
The heart of the problem, according to regular passengers, lies in the deployment of unskilled daily wage workers to handle vessel operations. These individuals reportedly lack the necessary technical training to perform even routine maintenance. This significant skill gap results in excessive downtime for minor repairs, crippling the essential service.
Francis Chammany, president of the Vypeen-Fort Kochi Passengers Association, highlighted the severe impact. He stated that annual maintenance takes months to complete. The suspension of a single vessel strands hundreds of vehicles and commuters, leading to massive queues. Currently, the route depends on just two vessels: one operating from 6 am to 8 pm, and the second from 8 am to 10 pm.
Chammany further argued that the Kochi Corporation, which originally introduced the vessels, should reclaim control. He suggested that deploying expert staff to operate the boats and even placing corporation employees at ticket counters could resolve previous revenue loss concerns raised by the council.
KSINC's Defense and the Missing Third Vessel
A senior official from KSINC has refuted the allegations of mismanagement. The official cited difficulties in sourcing specific machine parts whenever technical issues arise as the primary reason for maintenance delays, not a lack of expertise.
Compounding the tension is the indefinitely stalled delivery of a much-needed third vessel. The Cochin Shipyard is constructing this boat, but it remains unfinished. This is despite an original 18-month completion agreement and a revised promise for a "December rollout" made during an October review meeting with the former mayor, M Anil Kumar.
Mounting Pressure for a Corporate Takeover
The collective frustration has reached a tipping point. Stakeholders, led by the passengers' association, are now formally urging the Kochi Corporation to assume direct command of the ferry operations. They believe this is the only way to ensure:
- Professional management with technically skilled personnel.
- Reduced downtime through proper maintenance protocols.
- Accountability and revenue integrity for a critical public utility.
The situation remains deadlocked, leaving thousands of daily commuters facing uncertainty and inconvenience on a key transportation link in Kochi.
