Kochi Water Metro - First Public Boat Service Integrated with Metro Rail

Unveiling the Kochi Water Metro

Image source: kochimetro.org

The Kochi Water Metro project, costing a whopping Rs 747 crores, is being carried out under the supervision of Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL) with financial support from the German funding agency Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau. This ambitious project is expected to significantly boost the growth and development of Kochi, with plans to link up to 10 islands around the city.

According to the managing director of Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML), the water metro comprises two routes and will initially operate with 8 electric-hybrid boats. Upon completion, the water metro will stretch over 76 km with 78 boats and 38 terminals, servicing six panchayats and three municipalities.

All the boats used in this service are hybrid and battery powered, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. These boats, equipped with diesel-powered generators for backup, are set to replace the current ferry services run by the Kerala Water Transport Department.

The Kochi Water Metro is designed to offer all the amenities available in metro rail coaches. The system will also feature electronic display boards in jetties, announcements in English, Hindi and Malayalam, and passenger entry and exit to boats, complete with air-conditioned cabins.

The boats have a seating capacity for 50 passengers and can carry up to 100 passengers. They are equipped with aluminium-catamaran hulls, a ramp facility for the physically-handicapped, a feeding chamber for mothers, mobile recharge facilities, and charging facility at boat jetties. Safety measures such as an automatic boat locating system and a passenger control system are also in place.

With the ability to run at a speed of eight nautical miles per hour, these modern battery-operated ferries function without noise and create low waves. The water metro is expected to not only boost tourism but also provide modern facilities, revolutionizing public transport in the city.

Integration with Metro Rail

The Kochi Water Metro is designed to complement the Kochi Metro Rail, which has been operational since 2017. The boats mirror the design of Kochi Metro coaches, and the boat terminals, ticket counters, passenger entry and exit gates, and safety measures align with those of the metro rail service. Despite functioning like a traditional boat service, the water metro offers modern amenities and enhanced safety measures.

Route of the Kochi Water Metro

Image source: The Indian Express

The primary objective of the Kochi Water Metro is to connect the mainland of Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala, to 10 nearby islands via a boat service operating on the backwaters of Kochi. The boats, powered by batteries, are eco-friendly, noiseless, and produce low waves compared to traditional ferries. Facilities for recharging the batteries of the boats are available at all terminals.