KOCHI: The Eloor municipality has suspended the ferry service connecting Eloor-Cheranalloor-Mannamthuruth island from Friday owing to the bad condition of the vessel. Understandably, several commuters have been affected due to the cancellation of the ferry which operated from 6 am to 8 pm. Regular commuters had to walk to reach their workplaces in Kochi. Eloor municipality chairperson C P Usha said the service was suspended following a directive of District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla. The Collector had taken up the matter with the municipality after he was handed a special police branch probe which revealed the ferry was being operated without proper stability and fitness certificates.
“A council meeting called following the Collector’s directive decided to suspend the ferry service from Friday,” Usha said.The probe had found several issues with the vessel. The platform where the vehicles are parked was found broken and no specific safety equipment was found to prevent accidents. The commuters were also not any safety jacket while on the ferry which itself was operated by only two persons. The probe also found the ferry’s insurance expired in 2016. The same ferry had been operational for the last 15 years. The contractor who operates the ferry pays around `10,000 to the municipality. There has been an allegation the municipality renewed the ferry’s licence without checking its fitness and stability certificates“The licence is provided by the municipality.
While applying for renewal of the licence last year, the contractor had submitted the required certificates. The licence expires in November. If the contractor produces the required certificates, we will permit him to operate the ferry later,” Usha said.The non-availability of the service will aggravate the situation once schools reopen post Onam vacations. “We have decided to request the district administration for making alternate arrangements. A letter in this regard will be sent to the Collector. We hope another ferry is soon allotted by the authorities concerned,” Usha said.