The first water metro in India will be officially opened on 25 April in Kochi as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “dream project” to advance the state’s transportation convenience. The metro, which features a distinctive infrastructure, is designed to link the 10 island settlements of the southern state and has a capacity of over one lakh passengers.
Before it launches, here are five key facts regarding the first-ever water metro:
1. The metro is outfitted with the newest technology and safety features that will enable smooth sailing during the rains for a smoother commute and efficient travel. Additionally, it has environmentally beneficial Lithium Titanite Spinel batteries that limit the time between journeys to 10–12 minutes. 2. There will be a total of 78 ferry boats and 38 stations when the project is finished.
3. Eight Cochin Shipyard Limited electric hybrid boats will serve as the project’s first fleet for the water metro.
4. Called Kerala’s Dream Project, it is supported by the Keralan government and the German company KfW and has a price tag of Rs 1,137 crore. KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited) is the owner of the water metre.
5. The water metro will operate from the High Court-Vypin and Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals in the first phase. The Kerala Chief Minister claims that passengers would be able to go from the High Court terminal to the Vypin terminal in less than 20 minutes without encountering any traffic. While the Water Metro can take you from Vyttila to the Kakkanad in 25 minutes.
6. Boats leave every 15 minutes and can accommodate 50 to 100 persons each.
7. The metro will also include a rail and water metro integrated automatic fare collection system. Using a Kochi One Card, one may use the rail and water metro systems in Kochi. Through the Kochi One App, you can also purchase the tickets online.
8. Kerala’s backwaters may be seen from the metro’s big, air-conditioned windows, which are air-conditioned.
9. The minimum and maximum ticket prices for a boat trip are 20 and 40 rupees, respectively. Regular travellers may purchase weekly or monthly passes beginning at Rs 180, Rs 600, and Rs 1500, respectively. Additionally, the metro will include an automatic fare collection system that combines the rail and water systems.
10. The Kochi One Card may be used to travel by rail and water in the Kochi Metro. Through the Kochi One App, you can also purchase the tickets online.
