Friday, December 8, 2017

The “Floating Metro”: Kochi Water Metro Project


Kochi Water Metro is an integrated water transport project in Greater Kochi region proposed by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) under Unified Metro Transport Authority( UMTA, Kochi) to achieve synergy between the land and water modes. This project plans to connect islands situated closer to the mainland by way of sophisticated boats. Kochi will be among the few cities in Asia and the first city in the country to have water connectivity as a feeder service to the metro. 


                                   Source : KMRL

The water metro is expected to extended the “metro facility” to another 76 kms by connecting 10 islands around Kochi by way of modern sophisticated passenger boats. About 16 routes are identified and it is estimated that 38 jetties and 78 boats would be required to make the project operational.

                            Source : KMRL


Total cost estimated for the project is INR 819 crores. The German funding agency, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) is supporting KMRL with a loan of EUR 85-million  (around INR 597 crore) and the French funding agency, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), offers the technical support for the reforms.  The project is expected to be operational from April 2018. 


                                          Source : KMRL

Impact on islands

As the bridge road connections between the Kochi city and islands becoming increasingly congested and in a constant state of poor repair, the demand for a revival of the much cheaper water mode has been rapidly increasing. The efficiency, reliability and mobility offered by the proposed water metro system will have a direct impact on island communities.   

Along with the connecting jetties the rural roads also will be developed. Feeder services such as mini buses and auto rickshaws would ensure connectivity to all nook and corners of the islands. This will dramatically improve the overall transport facilities and also would significantly enhance the islanders access to the urban facilities in the mainland.


Source : www.google.com


These infrastructure development plans surely would serve as a catalyst for the overall economic growth of the islands around Kochi. The proposed commercial complexes in the jetties would enhance the job and self-employment opportunities of the islanders.   Once the project gets successfully implemented the now sleepy islands would turn in to bustling haven of commerce and ecotourism.