Kochi Metro Rail is planning to set up an integrated water transport system along with metro rail network in the city. It has identified 15 routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 76 km with a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to 38 jetties.
The project intended to introduce modern, energy-efficient, environment- friendly and safe boats with low wake and draft characteristics at a high frequency to increase ridership. It is expected to reduce pollution and traffic congestions in the city and ease access to business areas on the mainland for urban households situated along the Kochi lakeshore.
It will operate 23 boats– each having a capacity to carry 100 passengers in 2022 on 15 routes. The headways will vary between 10 to 20 minutes across various routes at peak hours.
The project investment cost is estimated at ₹ 8190 million and will be financed under Indo-German Financial Cooperation with a long-term loan agreement of EUR 85 million (Rs 579 crore) with German funding agency, KfW. The Kerala government will provide ₹ 102 crore and land acquisition cost of Rs 72 crore. There is a PPP component of around ₹ 66 crore.
Leave a Reply