In a major relief to the travel woes of people in Aroor and Arookutty regions in Alappuzha, the State Water Transport department (SWTD) is set to start a boat service connecting Ernakulam boat jetty and Arookutty.

Daleema Jojo, MLA, said that necessary permission had been received to begin the service. The Ernakulam boat service has been a long-standing demand of the residents. With the commencement of the boat service, daily commuters travelling to Kochi for work and other necessities will be able to save a lot of time. As the widening of the National Highway (NH) 66 is going on, residents have to spend hours travelling to and from Kochi. Ms. Jojo said the boat service would be a great relief for them.

The MLA recently moved a submission in the State Assembly about the travel hardships faced by the people due to the NH works. Ms. Jojo also held discussions with Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar on the matter.

The boat service will operate between Ernakulam Jetty and Arookutty via Thevara and Kumbalam. In the initial phase, services will run in the morning and evening. If found profitable, additional services will be introduced, officials said.