One of the first water metro routes in India, but also the first-ever integrated water 🌊  transport system of the size and scale in Asia. PM Narendra Modi is proud to dedicate one of Kerala's dream projects, the Kochi Water Metro (KWM), to the nation as an example for the future generation of transportation, which is clean, green, quick & cheap. The project started in April 2023. Once fully operational, a total number of  78 boats will ply between 38 terminals, spanning over 10 islands, the above route map projects the total span of terminals. KWM's boats will be built in Cochin Shipyard, and have innovative, lightweight cutting-edge designs, with the material of aluminum catamaran hull and FRP superstructure. These boats will be fitted with long-life lithium titanate oxide batteries 🔋, which can be charged quickly and are easily available commercially nowadays. The boats will have modern navigation and communication equipment, which can be controlled and maneuvered from the state-of-the-art Operating Control Centre. These electric-hybrid AC boats ensure safe and convenient public conveyance that has already received international praise.

Passengers inside a public transport boat.

Kochi is often referred to as the commercial capital of Kerala, nowadays. With 10 islands in and around Kochi, densely inhabited, islanders need to commute to mainland Kochi regularly to meet their major needs, like education, healthcare, livelihood even shopping. Now the state government can get a permanent solution to all the transport issues through KWM. 

The design of the boats and the terminals allows for a smooth transition of passengers between boats and platforms or terminals. There are floating pontoons that ensure that the terminals are always at the same levels as the boats all the time to allow easy passage even at high tides and low tides. 

Terminals on floating pontoons & passage to the ferry boat.

This revolutionary transport system will improve the socio-economic conditions of islanders and develop infrastructure that is connected to most islanders in common and grow a stable economy. The unique boat design uses negligible wave activity so that the passage of a boat does not disturb the aqua flora and fauna. The project requires minimum land usage and does not require a huge infrastructure. Just at the start, several 34,000 passengers can travel using KWM. This significantly reduces the congestion of traffic on roads and subsequent carbon emission footprints in the city. Once fully operational, KWM will reduce around 44,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum. Government of Kerala will thus boost their efforts in projecting Kerala as most carbon neutral state of the decade. One of the most environment-friendly water transport systems in the country that 40 more cities in the same country can develop giving clean, green, quick & cheap navigation possibility a success. A 20 to 25 minutes travel by water costs around INR 20/- a minimum ticket fare, and such tickets can be obtained by weekly, monthly or quarterly passes, or through digitally Kochi One App as well. The grand project took a cost of INR 1,136.83 crore at initiation loan from KfW a German 🇩🇪  state-owned investment and development bank that funds climate-resilient green infrastructural.

Friends make it possible someday to visit this eco-friendly transport system of Kochi and the suburban coastal areas of this part of Kerala, so that we can appreciate the future technology our nation  gift to our generations to come.

Subir Kumar Ghosh.

Kochi Water Metro.