Kochi Water Metro [UPSC Notes]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kochi water metro which is a first-of-its-kind public boat service integrated with a metro rail network. In this article, you can read more about the Kochi Water Metro and its significance for the IAS exam GS Paper III.

Kochi Water Metro

Image source: kochimetro.org

• The total cost of the project is Rs 747 crores and is implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL) with assistance from German funding agency Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau.
• The project is expected to boost the growth and development of Kochi and will connect 10 islands around Kochi.
• The managing director of Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML) said that the water metro consists of two routes and will initially sail with 8 electric-hybrid boats.
• When the project becomes fully operational, the water metro will cover 76 km with 78 boats and 38 terminals which includes six panchayats and three municipalities.
• Cochin Shipyard Limited constructed all the boats which are hybrid and battery powered. They also have a backup of diesel-powered generators.
• The modern boats constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited will replace the ferry services operated by Kerala Water Transport Department.
• The highlighting feature of the Kochi water metro is that all the facilities available in metro rail coaches will be available in boats.
• The water metro will follow a similar system in metro rail stations such as electronic display boards in jetties, announcements in English, Hindi and Malayalam and passenger entry and exit to boats, with air-conditioned cabins. 
• The facility available in boats are:
  • Seating capacity for 50 passengers with a carrying capacity of 100 passengers
  • Aluminium-catamaran hulls
  • Ramp facility for the physically-handicapped
  • Feeding chamber for mothers 
  • Mobile recharge facilities       
  • Charging facility at boat jetties
  • Safety measures such as automatic boat locating system and passenger control system
• Modern battery-operated ferries function without noise and create low waves. It can run at a speed of eight nautical miles per hour.
• The water metro will boost tourism and provide modern facilities.

Connectivity with Metro Rail:

• The Kochi Water Metro is a complementary service to the Kochi Metro Rail, which has been operating since 2017. 
• The boats have been designed to resemble Kochi Metro coaches and the boat terminals, ticket counters, passenger entry and exit gates, and safety measures are similar to those of the metro rail service. 
• Despite operating like a ferry or traditional boat service, the water metro boasts modern amenities and increased safety measures.

Kochi Water Metro Route

Image source: The Indian Express

• The Kochi Water Metro’s primary purpose is to connect the mainland of Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala, to 10 nearby islands through a boat service operating on the backwaters of Kochi.
• The boats are powered by batteries, which are eco-friendly, noiseless, and produce low waves compared to traditional ferries. All terminals have facilities to recharge the batteries of the boats. 

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