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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched India’s first water metro in Kochi, Kerala. The cost of this project is Rs 1,137 crore. The water metro will connect 10 islands in and around Kochi. Cochin Shipyard Limited has manufactured these boats.
Right now the first phase of this project has been started with 8 boats. After the completion of the entire project, 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid boats will be launched. This will help in reducing the pollution and it will be easier for the families living on the banks of Kochi Lake to reach the main market. More than one lakh people will be able to travel by water metro.
PM Modi said- Kochi Water Metro project is also ‘Made in India’… It is unique. I also congratulate Kochi Shipyard for this. The Water Metro will provide cheap and modern transport to the people living on the many islands around Kochi. This experiment being done in Kerala will also become a model for other states of the country.
Cochin Shipyard Limited has built these electric boats. Right now the first phase of this project has been started with 8 boats.
The Kochi Water Metro has 2 main components:
1. boat
- A total of 78 eco-friendly boats will run for passenger service. Of these, 23 boats can carry 100 passengers, the remaining 55 boats can carry 50 passengers. In addition to these boats, there are four rescue boats to support the main fleet in case of emergency and maintenance.
- The Metro is powered by a Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery. The battery capacity is 122 kWh. This battery technology is new and the boat can be charged in 10 to 15 minutes. Super-chargers have been installed in floating jetties at select locations. The boat also has a generator back-up.
- These boats are completely air-conditioned. Its large windows allow passengers to enjoy views of the outside world. The interiors have also been designed to provide the best of service to the metro travellers. The boat is designed in such a way that even at high speed, less waves are generated.
- The automatic boat location system can continuously monitor the boat’s position from the operating control center in the Wytila hub. The CCTV system is capable of monitoring boat movements from remote locations for better safety.
This is a Catman Ferry designed boat. Its length is 24.8 meters. In this, 100 passengers can travel at a time.
The interior of the boat has been provided with wide windows so that the passenger can also enjoy the exotic view outside during the journey.
The Water Metro is powered by a Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery. The battery capacity is 122 kWh. It can be charged in 15 minutes.
2. Boat Terminal
- There are three types of boat terminals according to size and capacity. Major, Intermediate and Minor Terminals. Terminals are planned on the basis of Peak Hour Traffic (PHT). Terminals with 1000PHT are considered major and terminals with 300-1000PHT are considered intermediate. Terminals less than 300PHT come under minor.
- All boat terminals are divided into paid and non-paid areas. Ticket facility, ticket vending machine, station control are in unpaid area. The paid area has arrangements for waiting area, toilet etc. All terminals have facility of automated fare collection and turnstile system for passenger counting.
According to the size and capacity, three types of boat terminals have been made. There is arrangement for ticket facility, ticket vending machine, waiting area, toilet etc.
This dream project of Kerala
It is being called the dream project of Kerala. The Kerala government and German firm KfW have invested in the project. The owner of Water Metro is with Kochi Metro Rail Limited ie KMRL. In the first phase, the Water Metro will run from High Court-Vypin Terminal and Vytila-Kakkanad Terminal.
According to the Chief Minister of Kerala, passengers will be able to reach Vypin Terminal from High Court Terminal in less than 20 minutes without getting stuck in traffic. The distance of both of them is about 18 kms. While Kakkanad can be reached in 25 minutes from Vyttila via water metro.
Kochi Water Metro ticket details
The minimum ticket price for the boat journey is Rs 20 while the maximum ticket price is Rs 40. Weekly and monthly passes are available for regular passengers. The weekly pass is Rs 180. This can travel 12 times.
The fare for 30 days with 50 trips will be Rs 600, while the pass for 90 days with 150 trips will cost Rs 1,500. Kochi One Card can be used to travel on Kochi Metro Rail and Kochi Water Metro.
Tickets can also be booked digitally through the Kochi One app. Boat Metro services will operate from 7 am to 8 pm.