Infrastructure
Maharashtra Taps Kochi Metro To Prepare DPR For Mumbai’s Water Metro
The Kochi Water Metro. (Representative Image) (@narendramodi/Twitter)
The Maharashtra government has selected Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for Mumbai’s ambitious water metro plan, Indian Express reported.
In an official statement, KMRL said the DPR will expand on an earlier feasibility study conducted by its consultancy arm, which assessed water transport links across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The proposed network covers key water bodies like Vaitarna, Vasai, Manori, Thane, Panvel, and Karanja, aiming to strengthen commuter movement across India’s financial hub.
KMRL’s managing director Loknath Behera said preparing Mumbai’s DPR is a complex task given the mix of canals, backwaters, ports, and sea routes.
Drawing on experience from the Kochi Water Metro, he said the project aims to enhance sustainable mobility and intermodal transport by linking rail, road, and river systems.
The report is expected to be submitte by year-end.
“Our expertise from Kochi’s pioneering Water Metro is now being extended to create sustainable mobility solutions for other cities. The Mumbai Water Metro project will boost intermodal connectivity by integrating rail, road, and river transport. The DPR will be submitted by the end of this year,” Behera was quoted as saying by IE.
The project will not only benefit commuters but also generate new consultancy opportunities and non-ticket revenues for KMRL.
KMRL is also conducting inland water transport feasibility studies across 18 cities in 11 states and two Union Territories, under the guidance of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
“Reports for Patna and Srinagar have been submitted, while studies for Ahmedabad and Guwahati are nearing completion. These reports will be evaluated by the IWAI, paving the way for future DPR preparation,” Shaji P Janardhanan, chief general manager, Water Transport, Kochi Metro, was quoted as saying by IE.
Launched in 2023, the Kochi Water Metro became India’s first water-metro system, integrating boat services with metro rail.
The battery-operated vessels are air-conditioned, accessible for persons with disabilities, and equipped with upgraded safety systems.
