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CASE STUDY

educational institutions into this project have shown that resilient school infrastructure
spaces that promote overall resilient schools are vital is not just an improvement
growth, encourage positive in shaping young minds, of educational environments
behaviours, and motivate preparing them to become but a crucial step towards
students to make meaningful responsible citizens capable building a stronger, healthier,
contributions to society. The of instigating future change. and more sustainable future
initiatives implemented in Therefore, investing in for the nation.
9. References
1. Banerjee, D., 2024. Urban-Rural Disparity in India’s Primary Education Enrollment: What Makes Urban Parents
Turn to Private Schools Despite National Preference for Public Schools?.
2. Basics of Water Resilience, 2024. EPA. [Online]
Available at: https://www.epa.gov/waterresilience/basics-water-resilience#:~:text=Water%20resilience%20
refers%20to%20the,water%20and%20properly%20treated%20wastewater.
3. Carmencita Tonelini Pereira, S. S. ,. S. a. A. A. 2., 2024. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools: A
Catalyst for Upholding Human Rights to Water and Sanitation in Anápolis, Brazil. Sustainability.
4. Community and Regional Resilience Institute (CARRI), 2013. Building Resilience in America’s Communities:
Observations and Implications of the CRS Pilots., Washington, DC: Community and Regional Resilience Institute..
5. McMichael, C., 2019. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools in Low-Income Countries: A Review of
Evidence of Impact. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
6. The City Water Resilience Approach, 2019. C40 Knowledge Community. [Online]
Available at: https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/The-city-water-resilience-approach?language=en_
US#:~:text=A%20water%20resilient%20city%20is,quality%20water%20services%20for%20all.&text=A%20
water%20resilient%20city%20is%20one%20that%20is%20able%20to,residents%20
7. Unicef, n.d. Clean India - Clean schools. s.l.:s.n.
8. Water Resilience, n.d. UN Global Compact NL. [Online]
Available at: https://www.unglobalcompact.nl/water-resilience.

Kochi Water Metro
Kochi Water Metro is a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly water transport system that connects Kochi’s island communities
with the mainland. The Water Metro network is equipped with a fleet of 78 battery-operated electric hybrid boats, with capacity
of upto 100 passengers, serving 38 modern terminals across 15 routes, for a total distance of 76 kilometres the Kochi Water Metro
started its commercial operations in April 2023 on two maiden routes: High Court to Vypin Island and Vytilla to Kakkanad. In
April 2024, three more routes have been added: High Court to Fort Kochi, High Court to South Chittoor, and South Chittoor to
Cheranalloor. To date, more than 2.5 million passengers have already used the services via its five routes. Once fully operational
in 2035, the Kochi Water Metro will connect 10 island communities with Kochi’s mainland and serve about 100,000 passengers
daily, thereby providing them with fast, reliable and eco-friendly water transport. The installation of security, surveillance,
communication and emergency response systems has helped to ensure the safe operation of the network. An automatic passenger
control system has further prevented overcrowding in boats, a primary cause of accidents in water transport.
The boats have been designed and constructed in a way that lowers their environmental impact through use of lightweight and
recyclable materials, together with a low draft and wake design, resulting in reduced power consumption and noise emissions,
thus limiting disruption to the flora and fauna in the waterway. To respond to tidal variations and future increases in sea level, all
terminals and jetties have floating pontoons to ensure safe boarding amid any change in water levels. The use of electric propulsion
for the boats has further reduced greenhouse gas emissions by at least 22,400 tonnes per year upon full implementation. Kochi
Water Metro further aims to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy operation through a 17 megawatt peak (MWp) solar plant.
The Kochi Water metro has been implemented as part of an integrated transport sector strategy with special attention to feeder
systems and connectivity with other modes of transport. By locating the ferry terminals in close vicinity of other modes like buses,
the metro rail, auto-rickshaws, and other feeder systems, the scope for increased ridership has been greatly accelerated. The project
is owned by the Kerala state government, which has contributed US$21.7 million to the project’s viability gap.
Despite the benefits of inland waterway transport, many cities have yet to harness its full potential. The Kochi Water Metro offers
a prototype of how other cities may revitalize their water transport and elevate it to include climate change considerations and
principles of sustainable urban development.

April, 2025, Volume 26. No.1 - SHELTER 71