Kochi Water Metro Project, Picture Credit: Metrol Rail News

New Delhi: India's first water metro rail project is expected to go live by December this year. The first of its kind for India, this is an integrated water-transport project connecting 10 islands near Kochi. A fleet of fully air-conditioned, electric-powered ferries are expected to start their services by the end of this year, reported Indian Express.

It may be noted that Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) and German Development Bank KfW signed an agreement in July 2016 for 85 million Euro loan for this project. The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 747 crore excluding Rs 72 crore required for land acquisition.

KMRL managing editor APM Mohammed Hanish said at a press conference recently that the project will indeed go live in December 2019 with around 23 ferries as part of project's first phase. These ferries will have a seating capacity of 100 passengers and will connect 38 jetties on 16 routes. In subsequent phases, 55 ferries with a seating capacity of 50 people will be rolled out as well.

The ferries will have a steel body, aluminium hull and will provide WiFi access. Initially, the ferries will be electric-powered but will gradually be powered by solar energy.

The project aims the development of 16 identified routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 76km. The project intends to bring in a fleet of 78 fast, fuel efficient, air-conditioned ferries plying to 38 jetties, 18 of which will be developed as main boat hubs, while the remaining 20 will be minor jetties for transit services. More than 1 lakh islanders will benefit from this project.

Worth mentioning here is that Kochi is the first city in the country to have achieved such a milestone whereby water transport has been integrated as a feeder service to the metro. It is also for the first time in India that such a significant level of investment is being brought in for improving water transport.