Kochi Corporation persists with bid to rope in KMRL for ro-ro service

The Kochi Corporation remains determined to negotiate a deal with Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) for the management of its ro-ro vessels, despite KMRL's reluctance to assume the responsibility. KMRL, responsible for the Kochi Water Metro, has shown resistance to take over the service so far. The city's civic body has been considering the idea of replacing the existing operator, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd (KSINC), which has consistently faced losses since the launch of the ro-ro service six years ago.

Councillors from various political parties have criticized the management of ro-ro operations. KSINC has cited the unchanged fares since the old jhankar services days, while operating costs, including fuel, have nearly doubled since the service began. The Mayor of Kochi Corporation, V.K. Minimol, stated that the corporation continues to hold discussions with KMRL, the main obstacle being the overdue dry-docking of the existing vessels and potential public criticism KMRL may face.

The corporation is also exploring the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to engage another agency to operate the service. KMRL's sources confirmed that the talks are in a preliminary stage, with no final decision made yet. The corporation's 2026-27 Budget proposes the creation of an SPV to manage the service, which faced criticism from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) as a potential step towards privatization.

The deadline for dry-docking the two ro-ro vessels, initially set for last December, has been extended by two years. In the meantime, the Kochi Corporation added a third vessel to its fleet, although it has not yet entered commercial operations.