The Rs.595-crore long-term soft loan for the proposed integrated water transport project mooted for the greater Kochi area received the approval of the German government on Thursday.

It is expected to get final clearance at the board meeting of German Bank KfW to be held on March 9. The Rs.741-crore project spearheaded by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) will be financed under the ‘climate friendly urban mobility project’ under Indo-German Bilateral Cooperation initiative. A total of 78 air-conditioned boats will be purchased under the scheme, which also envisages building 38 boat jetties and improving roads and footpaths to the jetties.

A sum of Rs.72 crore will be spent for land acquisition. A sum of Rs.102 crore will be contributed by the Government of Kerala. The initiative under the Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority (UMTA)-Kochi also involves improving connectivity between boat jetties and bus and metro stations.

Integrated water transport

“We have come one step closer to the project of integrated water transport for the city. I am confident that we will be able to sign the agreement with KfW in the month of March itself,” said Elias George, KMRL’s managing director. Two variants of air-conditioned and Wi-Fi enabled glass reinforced plastic (GRP) catamaran passenger ferries with passenger capacity of 50 and 100 respectively have been recommended in the detailed project report prepared by Delhi-based UMTC. The boats with diesel electric hybrid-based propulsion system are expected to operate at an optimal speed of 8 knots (14 km per hour), with the potential to increase up to 12 knots (22 km per hour), once a dedicated water transit corridor is established. The boats will be powered by a combination of twin diesel electric generators and electric motors for propulsion.

Apart from ferry service development, the project also recommends developing existing and new access roads providing increased accessibility to the jetties and also enhanced mobility within the islands. The major jetties or the main boat hubs shall be developed with Wi-Fi enabled social recreational opportunities. Tourism is also proposed to be promoted as part of the project. Sixteen out of 38 jetties will be developed in the first phase.