PM Narendra Modi is at present on a 2-day Kerala visit. He will flag off the first water metro of India. The metro rail connects ten islands around Kochi. The train will operate through battery-operated electric-hybrid boats. This is for seamless connectivity with the city.
Water Metro gives distinct urban transportation. It offers convenience and travel experience to the already prevalent traditional metro systems. This metro mode of transit will be valuable in cities such as Kochi.
Loknath Behera, the Managing Director at Kochi Metro Rail Limited, spoke to ANI ahead of PM’s visit. He said that the water metro project at Kochi is a unique project. The Prime Minister shall inaugurate it. The water metro is a game-changing transport because many islands surround Kochi. And, out of these islands, ten are very important and also heavily populated. He added that people who depend on the mainland will get a regular, luxurious, and sustainable transport system at an affordable price.
According to the officials, the government consciously avoided a one-size-fits-all approach to connectivity and infrastructure. This approach is seen in India’s rapid expansion of metro railway connectivity. India’s first water metro railway project will start with 8 electric-hybrid boats. It was developed under Cochin Shipyard Limited. KfW, the German company, and the Kerala government are funding this dream metro project. It will have seventy-eight electric boats and thirty-eight terminals.
The KWM service will start in the 1st phase from Vypin (the High Court) and Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals. The ticket price for the boat trip is 20 rupees. For frequent travellers, there are options for weekly or monthly passes. ‘Kochi 1 Card’ is also available. One can travel on Kochi Water Metro and Kochi Metro Rail. Also, Kochi One App will allow users to purchase the tickets digitally.
Water metro construction in other Indian cities
Not only Kochi, but Kolkata city in India is also almost ready for underwater metro. Kolkata has ongoing construction for underwater metro connectivity. This is under the Hoogly River. Trail runs are already done. The metro connectivity may start by the end of this year.
Kolkata’s underwater metro will have the East-West Metro Corridor. It includes a tunnel of about 520 meters. It will connect the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan crossing the river. The travel time between Howrah and Sealdah shall be only 40 minutes. The tunnel is thirteen meters below the riverbed.
PM Modi and other inaugurations in Kerala
PM Modi will also inaugurate various other projects. These are worth above rupees 3,200 crores. Besides Kochi Water Metro, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall also inaugurate the rail electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation of different rail projects. This includes the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram. This will also include Varkala Sivagiri and Kozhikode railway stations. It will also include the comprehensive development of the Thiruvananthapuram area, including Kochuveli and Nemon, and increase the sectional speed of the Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur section.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Thiruvananthapuram, where he flagged off the 1st Vande Bharat Express of Kerala. It will run between Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram. Further also, PM Modi will inaugurate the start of the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram. The Digital Science Park is seen as a key research facility. The PMO said this is to develop digital products and services by several business and industry units collaborating with academia.
