Kochi Water Metro: PM Modi inaugurates India's first water metro in Kochi; check out fare, routes, other key details

Kochi water metro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first water metro in Kerala's Kochi on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The Kochi water metro is a long boat equipped with modern amenities including AC. The boat will connect 10 islands around the city of Malabar. In the first phase of the project, the boat service will run between the High Court-Vypin route and the Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals. The metro will benefit one lakh islanders, according to information available on the Kochi Metro Rail website.

Kochi water metro: Fare

The minimum fare has been set at Rs 20, and maximum at Rs 40. The passengers can book their tickets using a mobile app. They can also get weekly or monthly passes, starting at Rs 180 to Rs 1,500.

Kochi water metro: Route

The Kochi water metro will connect 10 islands, in and around the port city. 

Kochi water metro: Project price, engine and interiors

The Kochi water metro project has a total value of Rs 819 crore, a major portion of which is financed under Indo-German Financial Cooperation with a long-term loan agreement of Rs 579 crore with German funding agency KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau). The project is envisaged with 38 jetties and 78 boats, covering a distance of 76 kilometres.

The Kochi water metro intends to introduce modern, energy-efficient and environment-friendly boats. It was planned as a feeder service for the Kochi metro rail, which has been in operation since 2017. Boat terminals, passenger entry and exit gates, ticket counters, and safety precautions are similar to the coaches of Kochi metro rail service.

On-board announcements will be made in three languages: Hindi, English and Malayalam.

Since it's an eco-friendly project, the engines of the boat will run on lithium titanite spinel battery, unlike normal boats which run on biofuel.     

The interiors of the air-conditioned compartments give the impression of traditional metro trains running in many cities in India, including Kochi.