The first water metro service in India is environmentally friendly, electrically propelled and accessible to differently abled people
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched India's first Water Metro on Tuesday in Kerala. The water metro is advertised as being environmentally friendly, electrically propelled, and secure for those with disabilities. It is made from lithium titanium spinel batteries and each path can be completed in 10–20 minutes.
Around Kochi, 10 islands are connected by the Water Metro, which is anticipated to change transportation in the region. The Water Metro is marketed as an economical mode of transit in addition to cutting down on trip time. The lowest price for a ticket is Rs 20, and the highest is Rs 40. Additional passes are also offered on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis for Rs 180, Rs 600, and Rs 1500, respectively.
The Kochi One Card permits holders to travel on both the Water Metro and the Kochi Metro Rail. Additionally, because the floating pontoons maintain the same level when descending, they are safe and guarantee easy sailing even in bad weather. Additionally, they are secure for those with disabilities. The system will have a total of 78 ferry boats and 38 stations when the project is finished.
The Kerala Government and the German financing organisation KfW have jointly set aside Rs 1,136.83 crore for the Water Metro Project.
Service would shortly start from High Court-Vypin terminals to Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals as the project's first phase. Each boat can hold 50 to 100 people, and services will be offered every 15 minutes. The metro project will start with eight electric hybrid boats made by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
The Kochi Water Metro, according to Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will significantly revolutionise the state's water transportation industry and increase tourism.