In an effort to ease mobility for the residents of surrounding islands, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is eyeing to develop Kochi Water Metro. This will be an integrated water transport system that will connect 10 islands that surround the mainland of Kochi city.
The Water Metro project worth Rs 819 crore will have a network of 15 routes that cover 76 km and will be served by a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to and from 38 jetties.
The Managing Director (MD) of KMRL Loknath Behera said that a centralised control centre would monitor and control ferry operations making the Kochi Water Metro the largest integrated water transport system in the world under a single command. In addition, the project focuses on the comprehensive development of the areas being connected by the waterways.
The transport body is looking forward to integrating the ferry, metro rail, bus, and feeder mode services. Also, non-motorised transport will also be connected in due course of time. With this KMRL would be able to offer integrated fares and timetables to the citizens.
The trial runs for 50-seater air-conditioned electric ferries had already begun in January this year and the boats will ply on the designated routes likely by this August. It is expected that over a lakh islanders would avail of the services. The Water Metro Project is designed with the objective to provide the islanders with a reliable means of water transport using canals that open into backwaters and the ocean.
