Departments spar over counter
There seems to be confusion over the ownership of the Ernakulam boat jetty, benefitting the private tourism lobby.
As the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) and the Kerala tourism department “sort out the ownership issue”, a private operator based in Fort Kochi is all set to open a ticket counter inside the jetty.
“We have written to the Tourism Director to immediate cancel permission. How can one start a parallel service from the government-run boat jetty,” SWTD director Shaji V Nair told Deccan Chronicle.
The new development comes after both the agencies arrived at a consensus over the ownership issue at a high level meet held at the Ernakulam guest house last month. It is learnt that the tourism department had agreed not to operate its boats from the jetty. “A final decision over the real authority is yet to be clarified,” Nair said.
When asked, a top tourism department official said that no private or tourism boats will be operated out of the jetty, and the counter is simply for interested tourists.
“It is a threat to our operations. Already, passengers are bogged down by congestion woes as during peak hours, one can witness long queues. So setting up another counter inside the building is not acceptable,” the SWTD official said.
Meanwhile, passengers complain that basic facilities are neglected by officials.
“For the last one month, the toilets are closed, citing water shortage problem in the jetty located right near the water body. The lack of lighting facilities and open drainage pose a threat to commuters,” said Francis J, a resident of Fort Kochi.
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