Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister, has inaugurated the first route and terminal buildings of Kochi Water Metro. It is a project of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) aimed at connecting the islands around the city using state-of-the-art boats.
Key Points
- Kerala CM inaugurated the first route of the project from Vyttila to Kakkanad.
- This Rs 747-crore Water Metro project will provide an accessible and eco-friendly transportation mode, especially for people living in 10 islands off the mainland.
- In the first phase of the project, 23 AC ferries with a 100-passenger capacity will be introduced. These will be battery-powered and disabled-friendly and will boost tourism on the islands.
- There will be no reliance on fossil fuels.
- In Phase 1, 16 out of 38 terminals will be completed, of which the Vyttila and Kakkanad terminals are ready.
- The terminals will have floating pontoons and will thus enable safe entry and exit of ferries, irrespective of high or low tide.
- The ferries would thereafter be extended up to Infopark and Smart City, aimed mainly at IT professionals.
- The German development assistance agency KfW will provide a soft loan of Rs 579 crore for the project. In Phase 2, 55 ferries with a 50-passenger capacity will be launched.
Panamkutty Bridge
Kerala CM also inaugurated the 250-meter Panamkutty bridge at the event. The bridge connects Pettah and Thripunithura across the Poorna River. It has been built by KMRL as part of widening the Pettah-S.N. Junction corridor into a four-lane road. The bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 17.2 crore.
