KOCHI: The future of the Vypeen–Fort Kochi Ro-Ro ferry service remains uncertain, with Kochi corporation exploring multiple options — including handing over operations to the Kochi Water Metro Limited or forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) — amid mounting concerns over management and efficiency.
Mayor Minimol V K said a final decision is yet to be made, but the corporation has sought detailed inputs from the current operator, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), following what she described as a lack of clear responses on operational issues. The corporation’s first preference, she said, is to entrust the service with Kochi Water Metro, while alternatives such as routing it through the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) or an SPV are also under consideration.
Officials are currently examining the feasibility of the SPV proposal, discussed at the council-level, and the challenge of identifying a competent operator. Even if the SPV is formed, the corporation would retain oversight, the mayor told TNIE.
At present, two Ro-Ro vessels operate on the busy route but commuters frequently face long delays, with only one vessel often seen in service. KSINC officials maintain that both vessels are functional, though one is taken off service for two to three hours during peak afternoon heat in line with manufacturer guidelines. The mayor termed the issue a “management problem”, noting that both vessels are not deployed simultaneously despite heavy demand.
KSINC, which has been operating the Fort Kochi passenger boat service since 2017 and the Ro-Ro vessels since 2018 under an agreement with the Kochi corporation, pointed to rising operational costs as a major constraint. While diesel prices have increased from `53 per litre at the inception of services to around Rs 95 now, fares remain unchanged.
The contrast in fuel consumption is stark: a traditional ferry uses around 100 litres of diesel a day, while a single Ro-Ro vessel consumes roughly 300 litres. With two vessels, daily consumption touches 600 litres. Maintenance is another major burden, with spare parts sourced from abroad and dry docking costs estimated at around Rs 4.5 crore. Despite these pressures, KSINC says the Ro-Ro service has generated an operational profit of around Rs 1.20 crore between 2018 and 2025, to be shared equally with the corporation.
However, financial settlements remain pending, with the corporation owing KSINC around `87 lakh after adjustments, largely linked to the loss-making Fort Kochi passenger boat service which continues to run on a `3 fare.
The service, which continued uninterrupted even during the Covid pandemic as a public utility, is expected to get a boost with a third vessel — built at a cost of around Rs 15 crore — set to be launched soon. One of the existing vessels will then be sent for maintenance.
With daily collections estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh and demand remaining consistently high, the Ro-Ro service’s challenges appear rooted less in viability and more in operational management.