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India's first water metro has been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 0n Tuesday, 25th April 2023 in Kochi, Kerala. This Kochi Water Metro service is part of the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited project.
This one-of-a-kind boat service is connected to the metro rail network. Similar to how we have metro/ airport feeder bus services, these boats will serve as a feeder service. Commuters can ride Kochi's surface metro and water metro with a single "Kochi-1" card. Digital ticket purchases are also possible.
Route and timings of Kochi Water Metro:
According to sources, the boat service will start officially on April 26, 2023. It links the mainland of Kochi with ten islands. There will be two routes initially: High Court - Vypin & Vyttila - Kakkanad. 8 service feeder boats are being prepared to begin the service. This new service is available every day from 7 AM to 8 PM.
With the water metro, according to CM Vijayan, travellers can get to Kakkanad from Vypin in 25 minutes and the High Court terminal in 20 minutes without getting delayed in traffic. These boat services have structured terminals, and passenger entry & exit gates, giving them the look & feel identical to the Kochi Metro.
As stated by Kerala's CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the metro will fundamentally alter water transportation and boost tourism in the region. The boats are made by Cochin Shipyard Limited with funding from the Kerala government and the German company Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau. The total fleet for the project comprises of 38 terminals and 78 electric boats.
Additionally, these feeder boats which are anticipated to connect multiple islands are battery-powered, have AC, and are accessible to those with disabilities. Since they are battery-powered, these metro boats will also be environmentally friendly. The Kochi Water Metro, when fully operational, will eliminate 44,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, according to Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi claims that the Water Metro service will help Kochi's traffic issues and encourage backwater tourism and that it will serve as a model for other states and the entire nation.
Kochi Water Metro Ticket price:
One ride will cost 20 rupees for anyone interested in using the service. The Kochi One Card or boat passes (weekly/monthly) with prices ranging from rupees 180 to 1,500 are further options. Both feeder boats & the Kochi Metro accept the Kochi One Card. Digital booking of tickets is also available.
