With the Kochi Water Metro ferries beginning to operate on the High Court-Bolgatty Island route a fortnight ago, it is estimated that the patronage for the ferries that began operating in April-end would cross the 10 lakh mark within a week.
A total of 10 ferries were hitherto taking turns in operating on High Court-Vypeen and Vyttila-Kakkanad routes. Their patronage hovered at approximately 2,500 during weekdays and between 4,000 to 5,000 during weekends when there was more inflow of tourists, mainly from the hugely popular Marine Drive walkway.
They find the ₹20 trip in the High Court-Vypeen corridor in an air-conditioned electric-hybrid ferry an enchanting and value-for-money proposition as compared to the much costlier, regular backwater cruises in tourist boats, which, however, cover longer distances through the backwaters, official sources said.
