Infrastructure
Cochin Airport May Soon Be Linked by Kochi Water Metro Via Aluva–Nedumbassery Route, Study Underway
Kochi Water Metro (KMRL) (File Photo)
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has begun a preliminary feasibility study to extend the Water Metro network to Cochin International Airport (CIAL) at Nedumbassery, reported Times of India.
If the project materialises, passengers will be able to reach the airport by boat from Aluva, bypassing road congestion.
A high-level internal committee has reportedly been tasked with conducting the study, which is expected to be completed within a month.
The decision to explore the Aluva–Nedumbassery route came in response to persistent public demand for extending Water Metro services to the city outskirts, according to officials cited in the ToI report.
The Water Metro, first launched in April 2023, has already become a model of urban water-based mobility.
Phase One of the Water Metro includes 15 routes linking 38 terminals across 10 island communities, with services being steadily rolled out over the past 18 months by Kerala Water Metro Limited (KWML).
The proposed route, around eight km via the Periyar River, will be examined for boat types, terminal facilities and connectivity options.
Authorities are keen to integrate the new service with Aluva Metro Station and the airport, ensuring smooth transfers for passengers.
The study will also assess whether the link should operate as a nonstop point-to-point service or allow intermediate stops.
The Water Metro extension comes alongside parallel initiatives: Kochi Metro’s upcoming rail line to Cial and the Railways’ plan for a dedicated Nedumbassery station.
