PM to launch Kochi water metro, CM calls it ‘dream project’

The Rs 747-crore project is being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL). The project is implemented with assistance from German funding agency Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau.

Official sources at KMRL said boat services would be operational along two routes: High Court jetty to Vypin Islands, and Vyttila mobility hub to Kakkanad. (Express Photo)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the Kochi Water Metro as a “dream project” of the state that would accelerate the growth and development of Kochi.

“The world-class #KochiWaterMetro is setting sail! It is Kerala’s dream project connecting 10 islands in and around Kochi. Exciting times are ahead for our transport and tourism sectors!” the CM tweeted.

According to KMRL and Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML) managing director Loknath Behera, the water metro will start sailing with 8 electric-hybrid boats in two routes – High Court-Vypin and Vyttila-Kakkanad. Operations on the first route will begin on April 26 and on the second route on April 26.

Once the project is fully operational, the water metro, with 78 boats and 38 terminals, will cover 76 kms in Kochi backwaters, covering six panchayats and three municipalities.

All passenger facilities available in metro rail coaches will be offered on the boats. Besides, boat jetties have been designed similar to metro stations. In Pic: The inside of the water metro. (Express Photo)

At present, only four terminals are ready for operation.

All the boats, constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, are hybrid and battery-powered. However, they have the backup of diesel-powered generators. These modern boats will replace the ferry services from Kochi to nearby islands operated by Kerala Water Transport Department, which have often faced the criticism for being short of facilities and safety measures.

All passenger facilities available in metro rail coaches will be offered on the boats. Besides, boat jetties have been designed similar to metro stations. All jetties will have electronic display boards. There will be announcements in English, Hindi and Malayalam, when the services begin at full swing. Passenger entry and exit to boats, with air-conditioned cabins, will be similar to the system at metros.

Sources said each boat, costing Rs 7 crore, can carry 100 passengers with seating capacity for 50. Boats, which have aluminium-catamaran hulls, will have a ramp facility for the physically-handicapped, feeding chamber for mothers and mobile recharge facilities. All boat jetties will have charging facilities for boats, which will run at a speed of eight nautical miles per hour.

Officials said the boats will have modern safety features, including automatic boat locating system and passenger control system. The non-polluting battery-powered boats could be operated noise-free and with low waves unlike the traditional ferries.

The Water Metro is expected to give a big boost to the tourism sector in the Kochi backwaters, apart from giving a modern transport facility for people living on islands on the outskirts of Kochi.

KMRL said the minimum ticket fare would be Rs 20 and maximum Rs 40 for the two routes. Boat services will be available for 12 hours a day at an interval of 15 minutes.

The Kochi metro was launched in 2017 and the water metro was expected to be in operation in 2019, but got delayed due to various reasons.