The Kerala State Water Transport department’s catamaran passenger boat, introduced to operate between Parassinikadavu and Mattool in Kannur district, has curtailed its service up to Valapattanam jetty after encountering clearance issues beneath the Valapattanam railway bridge.

The upper portion of the boat reportedly strikes the underside of the bridge, making it unsafe to proceed further. The authorities said only low-height boats can pass through this stretch, and the route had earlier been served exclusively by such vessels.

The service was launched a few months ago following a submission raised in the Assembly by Azhikode MLA K.V. Sumesh, prompting Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar to sanction two boats for the Parassinikadavu-Mattool and Azhikkal-Mattool routes. Though the launch was welcomed locally, the service faced disruption from the outset due to bridge clearance constraints.