Kochi
Water Metro is an integrated water transport project in Greater Kochi region
proposed by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) under Unified
Metro Transport Authority( UMTA, Kochi) to achieve synergy between the land and water modes.
This project plans to connect islands situated closer to the mainland by way of
sophisticated boats. Kochi will be among the few cities in Asia and the first
city in the country to have water connectivity as a feeder service to the
metro.
The
water metro is expected to extended the “metro facility” to another 76 kms by
connecting 10 islands around Kochi by way of modern sophisticated passenger
boats. About 16 routes are identified and it is estimated that 38 jetties and
78 boats would be required to make the project operational.
Source : KMRL
Total
cost estimated for the project is INR 819 crores. The German funding agency,
Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) is supporting KMRL with a loan of EUR
85-million (around INR 597 crore) and
the French funding agency, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), offers the
technical support for the reforms. The
project is expected to be operational from April 2018.
Source : KMRL
Impact on islands
As
the bridge road connections between the Kochi city and islands becoming
increasingly congested and in a constant state of poor repair, the demand for a
revival of the much cheaper water mode has been rapidly increasing. The
efficiency, reliability and mobility offered by the proposed water metro system
will have a direct impact on island communities.
Along
with the connecting jetties the rural roads also will be developed. Feeder
services such as mini buses and auto rickshaws would ensure connectivity to all
nook and corners of the islands. This will dramatically improve the overall
transport facilities and also would significantly enhance the islanders access
to the urban facilities in the mainland.
These
infrastructure development plans surely would serve as a catalyst for the
overall economic growth of the islands around Kochi. The proposed commercial
complexes in the jetties would enhance the job and self-employment
opportunities of the islanders. Once the project gets successfully implemented
the now sleepy islands would turn in to bustling haven of commerce and
ecotourism.
