Stalled ferry services to two key jetties hit tourists, commuters

Thousands of commuters and tourists have been hit hard as Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD) ferries are unable to call at the Mattancherry jetty—one of the oldest ferry terminals in the State and one with immense tourism potential—owing to the inordinate delay in dredging the premises.

Likewise, the proposal to operate ferries to the Kamalakadavu jetty in the Fort Kochi heritage tourism zone continues to hang fire, although floating pontoons and allied infrastructure have been readied using Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) funds.

The non-operation of ferries to the two jetties has affected tens of thousands of commuters, who would prefer water transport as it is faster, more economical and more comfortable than travelling in crammed buses and paying more than three times the ferry fare, said Abbas M.M., president of the West Kochi Passengers’ Association. “The SWTD and the other agencies concerned ought to remember that ferries have been calling at the Mattancherry jetty since the time when kings ruled Kochi. Steps must be taken to dredge the jetty premises regularly so that there is adequate depth for ferries to berth safely,” he said.

By now, passengers—most of whom belong to low-income groups—are fed up with hearing repeated assurances that “steps will be taken” to enable ferries to berth safely at Mattancherry. Tourists, too, prefer ferries to other modes of transport. In addition, the SWTD must take speedy steps to commence ferry services to the new jetty at Kamalakadavu, he added, while expressing concern over the inadequate number of ferries operating from the city to Fort Kochi.

The agency’s ferries stopped calling at the old jetty at Kamalakadavu a couple of decades ago. As a result, tourists and others travelling from the city used to alight at the Customs jetty and travel over a kilometre to reach the Fort Kochi heritage zone, known for its heritage streets, Chinese fishing nets and famed beach.

A senior SWTD official attributed the delay in resuming services to Mattancherry to the delay in dredging the jetty premises. “We had sent multiple letters to the Irrigation department in this regard. It is understood that the dredging remains incomplete, although a ₹4-crore contract was awarded two years ago,” he said.

Regarding the Kamalakadavu jetty, he said CSML, which executed the pontoon and allied works, was yet to hand over the premises to the SWTD. “Once this is done, we will arrange ferries. Their time schedule has already been handed over to the SWTD’s Ernakulam regional office,” he said.

Responding to this, a senior CSML official said the agency had completed all the work at the floating jetty at Kamalakadavu and had also renovated the Customs jetty. “What is needed now is a joint inspection of the floating jetty and its formal takeover by the SWTD.”