Kochi: The Kochi corporation has finally decided to deploy the newly inaugurated Ro-Ro vessel, Sethu Sagar-3, in the busy Fort Kochi-Vypeen section next week amid frequent service disruptions and severe commuter backlash.
“The vessel Sethu-Sagar-1 is developing frequent complaints as its annual maintenance works are long overdue. Minimol said the vessel Sethu Sagar-1 will be withdrawn for dry docking upon the deployment of the new vessel.
The new vessel will be deployed next week by forming a temporary six-month agreement with Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC),” mayor V K Minimol said. We urge the civic body to expedite deployment of the new RoRo vessel,” said Francis Chammany, president of the Vypeen-Fort Kochi passengers association. “The recent service disruptions have forced us to change the plan. This is even as the new vessel is lying idle and gathering barnacles in the backwaters.