To tide over the poor maintenance of boats in the district, the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) will soon set up a high-tech dockyard at Thevara.
The lack of a proper docking yard to repair old and rusty boats of the KSWTD has quite often resulted in cancellation of services especially to places such as Fort Kochi and Mattanchery. Most recently, two boats have been cancelled.
According to officials, the yard will be set up on the lines of Alappuzha dockyard.
“It will be able to do repair works on at least four boats at a time. The present dockyard at Thevara is extremely small and is nearly impossible to even maintain two boats at the same time. Once the proposal for a new dockyard becomes a reality, it will be able to house at least four boats at a single go,” said KSWTD Ernakulam Traffic Superintedent Xavier Joseph.
He said the department has eyed 40 cents of land at Thevara for the purpose. “This land is located near the current dockyard. It is currently under the ownership of the KSRTC. We have to first receive ownership of the land from the Corporation. Paper works in this regard is going on,” he said.
Silt Pumping Stations
The current dockyard will be renovated so once the new dockyard is built, the KSWTD will be able to cater to the repairs of six boats at a time. Apart from the paucity of space, repair works at the current dockyard have been brought to a halt owing to the accumulation of silt and slush. On some days, the repair work lasts for four to five months and by the time the next boat arrives for repair, slush and dirt would have already accumulated. The department is planning to purchase silt pumping machines to solve the problems of frequent slush formation.