Commuters dread walking through unlit SWTD ferry jetty in Mattancherry at night

Safety concerns arise as darkness engulfs Mattancherry Ferry Jetty, prompting complaints and calls for lighting improvements from commuters and associations.

A pall of darkness continues to engulf the Mattancherry Ferry Jetty of the State Water Transport department (SWTD), even as ferries from Kochi city resumed services to the jetty on February 5 after a seven-year gap.

Concerned about commutershaving to make their way through the unlit jetty complex and its surroundings, the West Kochi Passengers’ Association has filed complaints with the Chief Minister’s and Electricity Minister’s offices, among others, seeking intervention.

“Commuters have raised safety concerns due to the lack of lighting in the jetty premises. Passenger footfall is expected to rise once the adjacent Water Metro jetty is commissioned next month,” said S. Padmanabha Mallaya, secretary of the association. Otherwise, he added, they would be forced to take overcrowded buses that cost more than twice the ferry fare and take over an hour to reach the city, compared to just 20 minutes by ferry.

Secretary of the Mattancherry Water Metro Action Council Arafat Nazar voiced concern over the lack of lighting at the Mattancherry Ferry Jetty, warning that commuters might avoid the premises and be forced to rely on autorickshaws, which sometimes charge ₹300 for a city trip or buses. “Steps should also be taken to dredge the backwaters, so that ferries can safely dock at the jetty even during low tide,” he added.

SWTD sources said steps had been taken to install temporary lights at the jetty premises to ensure passenger safety. With ferry services operating from 6:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., commuters on the last few trips have raised concerns about the safety. An estimate has been prepared for permanent lighting and a power connection. On its part, the Kochi Corporation should install adequate number of streetlights in the vicinity, they added.

Work on the adjacent terminal of the Kochi Water Metro is expected to be completed by the end of March. The facility can accommodate up to three ferries at the floating pontoons simultaneously. Ferries from the city to the terminal will have a stopover at Willingdon Island en route.