SWTD withdraws catamaran ferries for alterations
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Fans, grab rails to be installed; steps at entry to be modified
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An eyesore: Even as the SWTD is suspending the operation of the newly launched catamaran ferries, older vessels abandoned by the agency are occupying considerable space at the Ernakulam boat jetty .
Fans, grab rails to be installed; steps at entry to be modified
The pair of catamaran ferries that the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) launched a week ago in the Ernakulam-Fort Kochi sector have been temporarily withdrawn from service to make a few modifications.
They include installation of fans, grab rails and modification of steps at their entry. The decision to install eight fans - four on each side - was taken since the ferries have sliding glass panes, as compared with shutters in the steel ferries that operate on the route. This was found to affect air circulation within the ferries. Many guests complained of this on the day of inauguration of the vessels. There are electric points along the perimeter of the vessels, from where power to propel the fans can be sourced, SWTD sources said.