Kochi Water Metro Project

Kerala’s commercial capital, Kochi is on the verge of a significant change. The city is set to be served by a water metro, the first one of its kind in India, just a few years after the launch of the much-awaited metro rail project. Hopefully, it is planned to get commissioned in September 2020 in coincidence with the Onam festivities.

The Kochi water metro project , which is also being executed by KMRL aims to provide better transportation facilities to people living on islands surrounding the city. It also intends a comprehensive development by extending the scope of tourism opportunities in these isles.

The first set of boats being built by the Cochin shipyard will be delivered by September 2020. The construction of jetties at Vyttila, Kakkanad, Mattancherry, and Infopark is underway and eight terminals will be put in place in the first phase, and eleven terminals will be completed in the second phase.

KMRL is all set to implement the integrated water transport project at a cost of Rs.747 crores with financial assistance from German bank Kfw. The environment clearance for the ambitious project has been provided by the Modi government, paving way for the infrastructure project to come up in Kochi.

Kochi ‘s water metro project will have 16 identified routes in Kochi. These routes will provide connectivity to 38 terminals across 10 islands. Kochi water metro project will have 78.2 km channel length and two boatyards. This project will have 78 fuel-efficient fast and air-conditioned ferries carrying passengers to 38 jetties.18 out of these 38 jetties will be developed as main boat hubs. The remaining will be minor jetties that are meant for transit services. The 16 identified routes in Kochi water metro are

1. South Chittoor-Ernakulam
2.Edakochi-Thevara
3.Ernakulam -Vypeen
4.Ernakulam-Mattancherry
5.Highcourt-Mulavukad
6. Vyttila -Infopark
7.Kumbalam-Thevara
8.Infopark-Edakochi
9.Mulavukadu-South Chittor
10.Edakochi-Vypeen
11.South Chittoor-Cheranellur
12.Elamkunnapuzha-High court
13.Kadamakudy-Paliyamthuruth
14.Chennoor-Thundathumkadavu
15.Chariyamthuruthu-Chennood
16.Kothad-Amrutha hospital

The beauty of the project is that it is not only an urban transport project, but also a total infrastructure and livelihood project for people living in the banks of Kochi backwaters.