KOCHI, (Metro Rail News): In a major development to the city of Kochi Metro, KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited) will begin operations of the first set of boats under the Kochi Water Metro Project on the Vyttila-Kakkanad route by the end of this month.
Last week, the first boat for the project was launched by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). A total of 23 boats will be built by CSL for the project with each boat can accommodate 100 passengers.
In February 2021, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the first route (Vyttila-Kakkanad) and terminal buildings of the INR 747 crore Kochi Water Metro Project. It will serve as a feeder service connecting islands and city suburbs such as Vypeen, Willingdon Island, Edakochi, Kumbalam, Nettoor, Vyttila, Eloor, Kakkanad, Bolgatti and Mulavukad.
As per Alkesh Kumar Sharma, whose term as Managing Director of KMRL ended on Wednesday, “The work on boats, pontoons, terminals, signalling and telecommunication and all related packages have been progressing well. The operations on the first route, Vyttila to Kakkanad, will start by the end of this month”.
The project is funded by KfW, a German Development Bank. It will comprise of 38 stations in 15 routes with total distance of 78.6 Km. The boats will be air-conditioned with service of Wi-Fi along with latest safety and communication devices.
The boats will also be environment friendly using green energy for its operation.