Kochi Water Metro

Kochi Water Metro is an integrated ferry transport project in Greater Kochi region proposed by Kochi Metro Rail Limited.[2] It serves as a feeder service to suburbs along with rivers where transport accesbility is limited. The project obtained the final environment clearance on Oct 2019, and its first phase completed in 2021 .[3] On 15 February 2021 Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated its first route between Vytilla and InfoPark constructed under Phase I of the project. The inauguration was a pre-election cosmetic inauguration as services did not begin until March 2022. The new announced date to start services was moved to July 2022.[4]

Kochi Water Metro
Overview
OwnerKMRL
LocaleKochi, Kerala, India
Transit typeFerry
Number of lines16
Line number
Number of stations38 (Under Construction) 6 (Operational)
HeadquartersJLN Stadium Metro Station 4th Floor ,Kaloor Kochi Kerala
Operation
Operation will startJuly 2022[1]
Operator(s)GCDA (10%) , Government of Kerala (10%), KMRL
Number of vehicles23
Headway10 minutes
Technical
System length76 km
Average speed8 knots
Top speed12 knots

Overview

Two variants of modernised air-conditioned and Wi-Fi enabled catamaran passenger boats are proposed for the project. The boats with passenger capacity of 50 and 100,operate at an optimal speed of 8 knots, with the potential to increase up to 12 knots. The boats are equipped with latest safety and communication devices. Small battery operated boats ply on the narrow lanes.[5] The headways vary between 10 minutes to 20 minutes across various routes. The jetties are proposed to have floating pontoons with automatic docking system technology. The floating pontoons will be covered with retractable sheds to provide comfort during rainy season.

As part of the infrastructure, Intelligent Navigation System and Operation Control Centre (OCC) are also proposed and will be integrated with the city’s intelligent transportation system. The Automatic Fare Collection system being implemented by the Kochi Metro will be extended to water transport system which facilitates travelling the metro train and the boat using the same ticket.

Apart from ferry service, the project also contemplate development of the new and existing access roads to jetties and islands. Two boatyards are proposed, at Thevara and Pizhala. The project also seeks to improve livelihoods in the areas along the backwaters and the islands in Kochi. Tourism is also proposed to be promoted as part of the project.[6]

Cochin Shipyard delivered the first of 23 electric ferries in January 2022.[7]

Phase I

The phase 1 consists of 3 lines out of which the Vytilla-InfoPark was inaugurated on 15 February 2021. Vytilla-Thykoodam-Kumbalam will be inaugurated by 2021-22. The deadline was missed and extended further as the delivery of the battery powered ferry boats have been considerably delayed.[8]

Phase II

The entire water transport project will be fully operationalised by 2022. In Phase II, it is proposed to operate 9 routes with a total of 16 routes and a fleet requirement of 78 boats.

Delay in acquiring land

Though all the contacts for the water metro are awarded the people effected by the project are compensated after a delay more than 800 days, the value considered much less than market value.[9]

Funding

The total cost of the Water Metro project is ₹820 crore (US$110 million). The KfW Development Bank will be providing EUR 85 million as long term soft loan and the Government of Kerala will be contributing ₹102 crore (US$13 million).[10]

References
  1. May 2, M. K. Sunil Kumar / TNN / Updated. "kochi: Water Metro Project Continues To Miss Deadlines | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. "Water metro tops priority list". The Hindu. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  3. "Water metro clears last environmental hurdle". The News Minute. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. "Kochi Water Metro by July? Hopefully..." The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. "Kochi Water Metro project moves ahead in full steam". Manorama Online. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. "Kochi to become first Indian city to get 'Water Metro'". 18 June 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. "Cochin Shipyard handovers India's first Water Metro ferry to Kochi Metro". Urban Transport News. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. "Kochi will have to wait longer for Water Metro". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. "New rules could triple Kochi metro's land acquisition cost". Malayala Manorama. ONManorama. 10 May 2019.
  10. "KMRL, German bank to sign pact for Water Metro". New Indian Express. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
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