THE WATER METRO

Yes, you've read it right. Metro is now available in water as well, in Kochi, Kerala. Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, is one of the most populated districts of Kerala.

Inland water transport was once the primary means of freight and passenger transport on the Vembanadu lake. The system has been declining over the last few decades and has seen almost minimal investment and technology upgrade. Since most of the rural areas in Kerala are connected only through water, water-based transport plays a major role in states like Kerala. Water-based transport is also energy efficient. This project is expected to reduce pollution and traffic congestions in the city and also ease access to business areas on the mainland for urban households situated along the Kochi lakeshore.

The Kochi water metro project envisages the development of 15 identified routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 78 km with a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to 38 jetties. This project intends to introduce modern, energy efficient, environment friendly and safe boats for properly implementing the project to not cause further inconvenience to the traffic and the public, it is split into two parts. By keeping the NEET examination schedule in mind, BJP organized the longest part of roadshow on Saturday to not cause inconvenience to students on Sunday.

The water transport system of Kochi focuses not only on the ferry services as the mode of public transportation but also envisions a holistic development of the areas being connected by waterways. The project also envisions to develop the existing and new roads to provide easier access to jetties and ferries.

The Kochi Water Metro Project has a total value of 819 crores and major part of this project is financed under Indo-German Financial Cooperation with a long-term loan agreement of 85 million Euros with German Funding Agency, KfW (Kreditanstault fur Weideraufbou).