PM Modi launches India's first Water Metro in Kochi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the Kochi Water Metro, a first-of-its-kind project that connects 10 islands through electric hybrid boats.

In the first phase, the water metro service will begin from the High Court-Vypin terminals and Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals.

According to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, commuters will be able to reach Vypin Terminal from High Court Terminal in just 20 minutes without getting stuck in traffic.

The water metro service will start on April 26, from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm. The boats will operate on the route every 15 minutes during peak hours.

The new project aims to link ten island communities in Kerala's city with the mainland, resulting in shorter travel times and more cost-effective transportation.

Kochi Water Metro: Ticket price

• The minimum ticket rate for a boat journey is 20 rupees.
• Passengers can also purchase weekly and monthly passes for regular passengers, starting from Rs 180, using which a person can travel 12 times a week.
• There are weekly and monthly passes available for passengers travelling on a daily basis.
• Passengers can travel in Kochi Metro Rail and Kochi Water Metro using Kochi One Card. Tickets can be booked digitally through Kochi One App.
• The water metro project is said to be eco-friendly, electrically propelled, and safe for differently-abled people too.
• The Kochi water metro will have air-conditioned boats with wide windows that will offer an exotic view of the backwaters.
• The overall cost of the project is Rs 1,137 crore and is funded by the Government of Kerala and Germany's KfW Development Bank.

with agency inputs