A cruise boat for Kochi

KOCHI: Come April and you need not hire a boat to take a cruise in the backwaters of Kochi.The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) is all set to start a circular boat service connecting different islands under its jurisdiction. The GIDA has invited tender for purchasing a double-decker boat for the service.  “The lower deck of the boat will be for ordinary passengers travelling to the islands while the upper deck will be an air-conditioned cabin meant for tourists who want to cruise in the backwaters. There will be a fixed charge for the upper deck while charges in the lower deck will be as per the fare stage,” District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth said. “The boat will be procured by the GIDA at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore while it will be operated and maintained by a private operator on a five-year contract,” said the District Collector.  He said four boat jetties -  Ernakulam, Mattanchery, Fort Kochi and Vypeen - would be modified and renovated as part of the development projects being implemented in Goshree islands. The areas under GIDA include Elamkunnappuzha, Njarakkal, Nayarambalam, Edavanakkad, Kuzhuppilly, Pallippuram, Kadamakkudy panchayat, Mulavukadu panchayat,  Fort Vypeen, Gundu Island and Thanthonnithuruthu. “The renovation of jetties includes construction of approach jetties, toilets, passengers' waiting area and tile-paved walkway. Projects worth Rs 300 crore, including drinking water, ferry services and housing infrastructure, are being implemented in these places,” he said.  A Goshree complex, which will houses a boat jetty, and a GIDA office, will also be constructed in 20 cents of land spending Rs 7 crore near the  Goshree Junction - Chathiath Road. The Collector said that the boat services are expected to commence by April next year.