Kerala: Kochi Water Metro Set To Begin Commercial Operations By December 2019

The integrated water transport system, Kochi Water Metro gears up to start services by December 2019, reports Metrorailnews.

The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), entrusted to implement the project, had planned to start services in April 2019, and later the date was pushed to October 2019. The tenders for the boats would be awarded on January 2019 and tenders for the terminals would be on 23 December 2018, said KMRL Managing Director APM Hansih Mohammed.

The project cost is estimated to Rs 819 crore, of which Rs 582 crore is provided by the German funding agency, KfW.

“The German Ambassador is satisfied with the progress of the project. Now, our focus is on the development of roads leading to the jetties. At present, most of the roads adjacent to the jetties are small and in a dilapidated condition. We are planning to promote the livelihood of inhabitants of the islands by helping them set up kiosks or shops.”

Almost 1,00,000 islanders are expected to benefit from Water Metro. As much as 8.67 hectares would be acquired for the project, of which 5.3 hectares is under government departments and 3.37 hectares by private parties.