Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s first Water Metro, the Kochi water metro, on April 25, 2023. This article will check out all details like India’s first water metro route, station, cost, funding, speed and owner.
Kochi Water Metrone-of-its-kind project will provide safe, affordable, and pocket-friendly travel for people in and around Kochi. The water metro project will help boost Kerala tourism and job opportunities. Kochi is one of Kerala’s most densely populated and best tourist districts. Inland water transport is one of Kerala’s most important freight and passenger transport systems. Many tourists across the world visit Kerala to enjoy the water transport in Kerala.
Kochi Water Metro Route
The Kochi Water Metro project has identified 15 routes connecting ten inland. This route will cover a distance of 78 km and connect ten islands. More than 1,25,000 people living on these ten islands will benefit from the water metro. The project will also help to reduce pollution and traffic jams in Kochi. In the first phase, the water metro in Kochi will start sailing with eight electric-hybrid boats on two routes, High Court to Vypin and Vyttila to Kakkanad.
Kochi Water Metro Station
Water stations are well connected with road and public transport. During the first phase of Kochi Water Metro, four station High Court, Vyttila, Vypin and Kakkanad, will start working. Commuters can reach Vypin Terminal from High Court Terminal in less than 20 minutes with air-conditioned boats. Kakkanad can be reached in less than 25 minutes from Vyttila. These water metro stations have all the basic facilities for passengers.
Kochi Water Metro Project Cost
The overall cost of the Kochi Water Metro project is ₹1,137 crore. The project includes 78 electric boats and 38 terminals. Of these 78 boats, 23 are for 100 passengers, while the remaining 55 are meant for 50 passengers. All the boats on this route have air-conditioned boats with expansive windows that will offer an exotic view of the backwaters. The water metro project is designed so differently-abled people can travel easily.
Kochi Water Metro Funding
The KfW Development Bank and the Government of Kerala have raised Kochi Water Metro funding. The KfW Bank is a German state-owned investment and development bank based in Frankfurt. The KfW Development Bank will provide EUR 85 million as a long-term soft loan, and the Government of Kerala will be contributing ₹102 crores (US$13 million). The funding has been raised to develop Kerala Water Metro should have world-class facilities and technology.
Kochi Water Metro Speed
According to reports, the first Kerala water metro boats will run at an average speed of 10 knots, with a top speed estimated to be around 15 knots. The rate will also depend on the water flow and weather conditions. The distance between each station on the water metro is estimated to cover 10 to 20 minutes. The boat will carry around 60 to 90 passengers in a single journey.
Kochi Water Metro Owner
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the Water Metro a “dream project” of the state that would accelerate the growth and development of Kochi. Kochi Water Metro’s owner is Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML). According to KMRL and KWML managing director Loknath Behera, the water metro will start sailing with eight electric-hybrid boats in two routes – High Court-Vypin and Vyttila-Kakkanad. Operations on the first route will begin on April 26 and on the second route on April 26.
Kochi Water Metro Ticket Price
The minimum ticket price for travel by water metro has been fixed at Rs 20 and the maximum price at Rs 40. The ticket price is not much higher than was expected. The ticket price was set at a minimum so that everyday travellers could easily travel by water metro. According to the sources, weekly and monthly passes will also be available for regular passengers on the water metro.
Keep visiting The Ganga Times for such beautiful articles. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Koo for regular updates.