Source: The post is based on the article “PM inaugurates Kochi Water Metro: What is this public boat service?” published in Indian Express on 25th April 2023
What is the News?
The Prime Minister has inaugurated the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro.
What is the Kochi Water Metro?
Kochi Water Metro is a first of its kind public boat service in India integrated with a metro rail network.
It is being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL) with the assistance of a German funding agency.
Features: The water metro boat service will operate in the backwaters of Kochi, connecting 10 nearby islands with the mainland of Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala.
– It includes boats that are hybrid, battery-powered, air-conditioned and disabled-friendly among other features.
– The project is envisaged with 38 jetties, and 78 boats, covering a distance of 76 km. The non-polluting, battery-powered boats are noise-free and produce low waves, unlike traditional ferries.
How is the water metro linked to the metro rail?
Kochi Water metro has been envisaged as a feeder service of the Kochi metro rail, which has been operational since 2017.
While boats have been designed as coaches of Kochi Metro, boat terminals, passenger entry and exit gates, ticket counters and safety measures mirror the features of the metro rail service.
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