Kochi Water Metro: a new initiative in the transportation scenario

The fast-growing coastal cities are facing serious challenges with the urban transportation system like traffic congestion, environmental sustainability and also equitable access. Inland water transport has historically contributed to a number of Indian cities' overall mobility. However, it has been fragmented and technologically outdated. The Water Metro is India's first-ever metro-style electric water transport project. The ferry system is different from traditional ferries due to electric propulsion, metro-grade operations standards and integration with other transport modes. This paper assesses Kochi Water Metro in a descriptive and analytical way and examines the policy rationale, institutional structure, technological framework, socio-economic impact and environmental impact of the project. The aim and objectives of this research paper are to study the initiatives taken by Kochi Water Metro Limited to resolve existing inter-island and island-mainland mobility issues in Kochi. The study is based on official project documents, government policy documents and semi-structured in-depth interviews with senior officials of Kochi Water Metro Limited and Kochi Metro Rail Limited. According to the paper, the Kochi Water Metro is often hailed as an infrastructure success but in fact attempts to reposition water-based public transport within the increasingly prominent conversation around sustainable urban mobility in the Global South.