Kochi Water Metro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off country's first water metro in Kochi

Kochi Water Metro: Ever since India's first metro hit the track in Kolkata on October 24, 1984, metro trains have fascinated Indians. Delhi Metro was a complete game-changer, which met the best international standards. But despite having large water bodies across the country, Indians hardly thought of a metro which could run on water. The dream will come true on Tuesday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India's first water metro in Kochi.

Though it looks like a modern metro compartment, there is a difference; the metro is basically a long boat equipped with modern amenities like air conditioning, etc. 

This is an electric hybrid boat, which has been built by Cochin Shipyard. Coined the 'dream project' by Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kochi water metro will connect as many as 10 islands. The Rs 1,137-crore project will have 78 eco-friendly water metros and 38 terminals.  

In the first phase of the metro, the boat service will run between the High Court-Vypin route and the Vyttila-Kakkanad terminals.

To make the water metro pocket-friendly, the minimum fare has been kept at Rs 20. While passengers can get weekly and monthly passes issued, they can also book their tickets via an app. 

Since it's an eco-friendly project, the engines of the boat will run via a 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.

If the Kochi water metro becomes a success, it can pave the way for many similar services in scores of Indian cities, which have rivers or canals meandering through them, but can't use them in their transport services.