KOCHI: The Kerala Water Transport Department (KSWTD) has completed the procedure to acquire water taxis and 90-seater tourist service boats. The bids to acquire two water taxi boats and two 90-seater boats had been awarded to private companies last week.
KSWTD authorities said the tender for construction of 10-seater water taxi has been allotted to the city-based Navgathi Marine Design and Construction Ltd. The water taxies will ply the Muhamma, Alappuzha, Kumarakom and Ernakulam route. As per the tender, Navgathi will build two water taxies at a cost `1.60 crore, which includes annual maintenance for five years. Navgathi was in the limelight after it constructed India's first solar ferry, which is operating at Vaikom-Thavanakkadavu.
"The water taxi will be one of the first ventures by the KSWTD. Similar to cabs, the service of water taxies can be availed by hailing them through mobile phones. We expect the water taxies to be launched by next year-end. The funds will be provided to the company during the six stages of construction," said a KSWTD officer.
The KSWTD has awarded the tender to construct the 90-seater passenger cum tourist service boats to MS SILK. These boats will be used for tourist ride programme 'See Ashtamudi'. The boats will be constructed and acquired by the KSWTD at a cost of `3.89 crore. The boats will be ready for operation by 2018-end.
"The KSWTD is planning to enhance its operations by adding new boats. The department will be acquiring five 75-seater single mono hull steel boats, two 75-seater GRP catamaran boats and two 100-seater GRP catamaran boats. Kerala has immense potential to develop its water transport system. More speedboats will be launched to enable passengers to reach long distances in the shortest possible time," an officer said.