Stakeholders in the ferry sector have demanded that Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) do a reality check on specifications fixed for 23 air-conditioned ferries that will be rolled out in the first phase of the ₹750- crore Water Metro project, to prevent escalation of project cost.
Approximately, ₹260 crore of the ₹750 crore is to introduce a fleet totalling 78 ferries in the Greater Kochi area.
Official sources said the last date for the four firms, which were shortlisted earlier this year to submit bids to manufacture the ferries, is March 22, following which they will be opened on March 25.
The capital and operational expenditure on the vessels might double if KMRL does not do stocktaking of the specifications in its bid, said Sandith Thandasherry, a naval architect who heads the firm that built India’s first solar-powered ferry that operates in Alappuzha. “The estimated cost of a 100-seater ferry might jump from the estimated ₹4.5 crore to upto ₹8 crore if the metro agency insists on a speed of eight knots (15 kms) per hour and other high specifications. The reliance on battery can be considerably lessened if speed is curtailed to six knots (11 kms) per hour,” he said.
He suggested 6 knots speed at pure electric propulsion and higher speeds at hybrid mode.
Commuter patronage
Yet another specification is that the vessels must be fully air-conditioned, running on batteries. This will phenomenally increase the need for batteries on board. It would also be an extremely-costly proposition, since more batteries necessitate the need for much more space.
This will in turn make the vessels unduly big, having a fallout on procurement cost and operational expenses. Commuter patronage will be affected if all this reflects in the fare structure, Mr. Thandasherry said.
He also suggested that the KMRL must have maximum number of solar panels in ferries rather than on land (KMRL is scouting for land for a solar farm), since charging while on the move will further lessen expenditure on batteries and the time taken for each recharge.
Responding to the concerns, official sources said that they are awaiting the response of the four firms in the fray, which include Cochin Shipyard.
“No firm has so far expressed concern about cost escalation. They sought more time from us to respond, since discussions are on with battery manufacturers. We do not want to respond till tenders are opened,” they said.