With demand gathering momentum to introduce a third roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry in the busy Vypeen-Fort Kochi corridor, the Kochi Corporation will convene a meeting of stakeholders, including the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) that is operating the two existing Ro-Ro ferries, to chalk out a plan of action, Mayor M. Anilkumar has said.
This comes in the wake of repeated demands by NGOs and others to roll out a third, bigger vessel in the corridor, considering instances of one of the two vessels being often withdrawn from service following technical snags. This in turn results in the formation of a serpentine queue of vehicles near the terminals in Vypeen and Fort Kochi since a conventional ferry that can carry only passengers is introduced as a substitute.
The State government had earmarked ₹10 crore in the Budget for the Kochi Corporation to procure the third Ro-Ro. The Mayor's statement comes in the wake of office-bearers of Vypeen Janakeeya Kootayma, a conclave of organisations demanding augmentation of Ro-Ro services in the corridor, meeting him on Saturday and submitting a memorandum.
