Kochi water metro: Country's first water metro in 4 years

Kochi: The Rs 747-crore Kochi Water Metro project that aims to provide water connectivity to people living in various islands along the Vembanad lake in the city outskirts would be completed in four years and the government would  closely monitor progress of the project at every stage, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. He was speaking after carrying out the symbolic laying of the keel to mark the commencement of the project at the Sacred Heart Church ground in Kothad, Kadamakkudy.

“Upon implementation, Kochi will be the first city in the country to have an urban water transport project and the people living in islands can enjoy seamless connectivity to the main land like that of Hong Kong and Istanbul,” he said. A total of 78 modern boats will be procured as part of the project under which a total of 16 routes connecting 38 jetties across a 76-km route network was identified for service operation. The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) on Friday signed a pact with German bank KfW to extend euro 85 million loan ('580 crore) for the project.

The Chief Minister said the initiative will also provide new job avenues for people living in the islands, a majority of them financially backward. “With the project implementation, Kochi will be able to woo more tourists as its capacity as an international port town benefits all classes of society,” he said.

The Water Metro project is not just about launching boats, but building roads in the islands and plying electric-CNG buses on the roads there, besides providing basic infrastructure facilities such as street lights. The CM, however, noted that the cooperation of six panchayats, four municipalities, Kochi Corporation, MPs, MLAs and other elected representatives are necessary for timely completion of the project.