On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first water metro in Kochi, Kerala. According to the Mint, it is not only the country’s first water metro but also Asia’s first integrated water transportation system of this size and scale.
The project is expected to be completely operational by 2035, with 1.5 lakh passengers per day. It is also said to be the world’s largest electric boat metro transportation system being built.
Kochi Water Metro:
Kochi Water Metro is an integrated ferry transportation system that serves the Greater Kochi region of Kerala, India. It is India’s first water metro system and Asia’s first integrated water transit system of this size.
Construction began in 2016, and the first section between Vytilla and InfoPark was launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in February 2021. Later, PM Narendra Modi formally inaugurated and opened it to travellers on April 25, 2023.
Features of Water Metro:
According to Wikipedia reports,
- The Water Metro project is instituted at a cost of 1,137 crore (US$140 million).
- The Kerala government provided funds for the project, as well as a loan from KFW, a German state-owned investment and development bank.
- Kerala water metro will connect ten islands in and around the port city.
- Kochi water metro is expected to reduce 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
- It is expected to serve 34,000 passengers a day.
- In the first phase, services will begin from lines Vypin to High Court and Vytilla to Kakkanad.
Ticket price and Passes:
- The minimum price of a ticket of only Rs 20.
- The maximum price is Rs 40.
- Weekly pass- Rs 180, Monthly pass- Rs 600 and Quarterly pass- Rs 1500.
- Water Metro is accessible using the Kochi Metro One card.
- Digital tickets can be booked through a QR code using Kochi One app.
According to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kochi water metro is expected to reduce 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. He went on to say that the water metro idea may be replicated in 40 Indian cities.
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