As SWTD huffs & puffs, Water Metro promises smooth Mattancherry ride

To commence services in High Court-Willingdon Island-Mattancherry section from mid-June

- Krishna Kumar K E @ Kochi

FOR nearly six years, Mattancherry residents had to make do without the popular boat services that helps them reach Kochi city in just 20 minutes. And when the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) resumed the services in February this year, the residents heaved a sigh of relief. Alas, it was short-lived.

The silt deposit in the backwater channel posed a serious hurdle yet again despite the deployment of a new silt pusher machine acquired by the Cochin Smart Mission. SWTD was forced to suspend the services daily during the peak morning hours as the boats faced the risk of getting stuck in the slush along the navigation channel during low tide. The services would often start only by 11am, after a change in tide.