Stalled boat services: West Kochi residents seek collector’s intervention to resolve logjam

Kochi: Residents of West Kochi demanded district collector's immediate intervention in resuming the stalled boat services from the historic Mattancherry jetty.The jetty, once a lifeline for West Kochi, has become a symbol of administrative apathy. After a long-awaited relaunch in Feb 2025, boat services were abruptly halted just two months later, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. This sparked a wave of public resentment against state water transport department (SWTD) and irrigation department.The crisis stems from a stalled Rs 4.78-crore renovation and dredging project. Despite Rs 78 lakh being allocated for the jetty's renovation and Rs 4 crore for deepening the navigation channel, the project has hit a bureaucratic wall. Currently, the dredging machinery, intended to clear the path, is itself an obstruction. A dispute over pending payments has reportedly led the contractor to abandon equipment and install pillars at the jetty entrance, blocking vessels."While irrigation department blames Cochin Port Trust for licensing delays, and SWTD remains a spectator, the public is suffering. Commuters are forced back onto congested roads, facing longer travel times and higher costs. Besides the daily struggle of residents, the stalemate is dealing a heavy blow to Mattancherry's tourism sector too," said M M Abbas, president of West Kochi Passengers Association.Frustrated residents petitioned the collector on Wednesday, demanding an immediate high-level meeting between the warring departments. The petition also called for a vigilance inquiry into the suspected nexus between officials and contractors."With Rs 4.78 crore of taxpayer money at stake, we demand accountability. If the deadlock is not resolved soon, we plan to launch protests as citizens have the right to efficient public transport," said Padmanabha Mallya, secretary.