Page 88 - HUDCO Award for Best Practices - 2024

THEME: URBAN TRANSPORT

Kochi Water Metro Project (KWMP)

Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Kerala

BACKGROUND

Kochi Water Metro (KWM), an ambitious, huge and environment friendly, sustainable integrated water transport system
revolutionizing urban connectivity in the picturesque city of Kochi was inaugurated on 25th April 2023 by the Honourable Prime
Minister of India and has started revenue operations with effect from 26th April 2023. This visionary project aims to connect the island
communities to the mainland, fostering socio-economic growth, improving livelihoods, and enhancing tourism prospects. Kochi
Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), a joint venture company of the Government of India and the Government of Kerala, has been entrusted
with the execution of this prestigious water metro project. Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML) is entrusted with operations and
maintenance of the entire water metro system.

Kochi is Kerala’s main port, commercial hub, and the largest city, with a population of around 2.1 million people (more than 3
million, if suburbs are taken into account). It is the largest and the most populous metropolitan area in Kerala and forms part of
the Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala. Kochi is characterized by the presence of rivers, canals, estuaries, port waters and
surrounding island groups like Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon Island, etc.

Being the largest city in the state of Kerala, challenges for a sustainable transportation has always been one of the major struggles,
especially, when it comes to convenience of islanders, they still had to depend on ageing and non-reliable conventional water transport
solutions or lengthy alternate roadways to come to main land, where majority of the facilities are available.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITIES

The priority was to establish a safe and reliable modern metro-like water transport system suiting the geography of Kochi region by
connecting major island communities in and around the mainland (City), which would have direct impact on their socio-economic
development. With many limitations in expansion of city roads, ever growing traffic congestion in existing roads and related carbon
emissions, there was an immediate necessity for alternative and much greener transportation option, especially for lakhs of islanders.

Changing the Public’s outlook about ferries, ferry stations, ticketing systems, access infrastructure and provision of reliable
mobility solutions including last mile connectivity was the aim of project implementation. Government organizations like District
administration, IWAI, PCB, KSEB, Ports, etc. along with public representatives have contributed for establishing the base for project
implementation to benefit daily commuters as well as tourists from/to islands.

MOBILISATION OF RESOURCES

The ambitious project, with an investment of INR 1,136.83 Crore, is supported by direct contributions from the State Government
of Kerala and funding from KfW through Indo-German cooperation. Project management is being handled by Project Executing
Agency (PEA) i.e. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and works are sub-managed by expert project consultants appointed by the
PEA.

Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML), a joint venture between the Government of Kerala (GoK) with a 74% stake and Kochi Metro
Rail Limited (KMRL) with a 26% stake, is responsible for the operations, maintenance, and management of the Water Metro.
Starting from feasibility studies, property acquisition, public coordination, statutory approvals, tendering and procurement, contract
management, site management and supervision, commissioning, etc. are being jointly handled by PEA and Project Consultants in
consultation with District Administration.

THE PROCESS
Land acquisition and transfers, administrative and statutory approvals, CRZ clearance,Product and technology finalization,
Lockdowns/logistic disruptions due to Covid were all major hurdles during the initial project phase. Public meetings were held by the
district administration during project realization phase for better understanding of public demands/requirements and to explain the
long-term project benefits, thereby ensuring continuous support from public, regional communities and local bodies. Involvement

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