Kerala’s port city of Kochi is set to get a ‘water metro’ under an integrated urban transport system, the first of its kind in India.
Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) is funding the Rs6.3bn project linking various islands to the mainland and the metro network through inland waterways providing last-mile connectivity to islanders and leisure travel to visitors.
A team from the German development bank visited Kochi last year following talks with the Kochi Metro authorities, and the German government approved the project in February. The two sides signed a deal last week.
The project includes the introduction of modern water crafts, renovation of boat jetties, re-development of access roads with streetlights and many other advanced facilities.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan flagged off the project at a function held at the Sacred Heart Church Ground in Kothad yesterday.
“This is a milestone in Kochi’s development,” he said.
The project envisages the development of 16 identified routes, connecting 38 docks across ten islands and spans a total route network of 76km to be implemented in two phases and fully operational in four years.
It intends to have a fleet of 78 fast, fuel efficient, air-conditioned ferries plying to 38 jetties, 18 of which will be developed as hubs while the remaining will be minor piers for transit services.
“The advent of water metro will make Kochi the first Indian city where water connectivity will be developed as a feeder service to the metro rail,” said Elias George, the managing director Kochi Metro, which is implementing the project.
“This is the first major externally-funded urban water passenger transport project ever to be implemented in India, and its beauty is that it is not just an urban transportation project, but a complete infrastructure and livelihood enhancement for people living along the Kochi backwaters,” George said.
Martin Ney, the German ambassador to India, said his country was proud to be in partnership with Kochi “which is on its way to becoming a smart city.”
“We intend to start our journey towards a smart city through sustainable, environment-friendly urban mobility,” he told reporters.
Kochi is one of the three smart cities chosen by the German government for its support.
The project also seeks to transform the poorer communities living on the islands and the Vembanad lagoon by giving them access to the economic opportunities which are available in the heart of the city.
“The water metro is not just about putting boats on the water but also putting roads on the islands, which are ill-served by connectivity and electric buses on those roads,” George said.
“There’s even a lighting component so people can go home safe and work longer. The project will also focus on creating a system wherein people who travel by their vehicles opt for public transport, once the entire integrated transport model is in place. All in all, we are looking at having boats in the water by 2018.”
The Kochi Metro Rail Limited plans a seamless multi-modal transport system in the city, integrating various transportation modes like the waterways, buses, metro rail and intermediate para-transit systems like auto-rickshaws and taxis.
It also plans joint ticketing, with pre-loaded or credit card linked smartcard for which the company last year struck a deal with the Axis Bank.
The Germans will consider financing procurement of ferries, refurbishment or construction of jetties and associated dredging and other relevant investments. The project is expected to run ferries that are at least 20% more fuel efficient.
Electric feeder buses, e-rickshaws and pedestrian walkways and bicycle tracks are also on the anvil. Better facilities for access and, in particular, requirements for the safety of women and specially challenged people will also be implemented.




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