Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) will set up an inter-modal transportation facility, similar to the Vyttila Mobility Hub, at Thevara by constructing a boat jetty at western end of the KURTC depot there as part of implementing the Water Metro Project. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held with the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) officials the other day at Alappuzha.
"A part of the KURTC-owned land currently taken on lease by the KSINC will be handed over to the KMRL to set up a floating boat jetty and a separate dry dock facility there. Upon the realisation of the Water Metro project, commuters can travel in fast ferry boats from areas like Fort Kochi or Mattancherry and catch connecting low-floor buses to eastern parts for the district," a senior SWTD official said.
Currently the KURTC is operating nearly 60 services using AC and non-AC low-floor bus services to destinations like Kochi airport, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Thrissur and Alappuzha, among others. The KMRL aims to start boat operations as part of the Kochi Water Metro project by April 2019. The project envisages operation of 78 modern vessels in 16 identified routes connecting 10 island communities across a 76-km route network. Eighteen major jetties and 20 minor jetties will be developed for the water-transit services. During the discussions, the KMRL requested the SWTD to share its boat yard for maintenance and repair works of it vessels, however, the latter turned it down.
"We're procuring nine double hull boats which will be delivered in a year. The current boat yard will be developed so that four boats can be simultaneously accommodated instead of the current one boat. We can't share it with Water Metro as both agencies will struggle to accommodate respective boats," the official said. However, he added that it was decided to share the existing boat jetty of SWTD at Vypeen.
