Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has started the process of conducting survey as part of implementing the Water Metro Project, envisaged to connect the people residing around the Kochi backwaters to main land. The works started even as the Union Environment Ministry is expected to give clearance to the Rs 747 crore project by next week. “The exercise is being conducted by the Hydrological survey wing functioning under the Fisheries and the Harbour departments,” a KMRL official said.
Earlier, the KMRL has shot off letters to panchayats and the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) seeking the necessary land to be handed over to it for the project implementation. The project envisages the development of 16 identified routes, connecting 38 jetties across 10 islands and spans a total route network of 76 km. The project will be implemented in two phases and would be fully operational in four years.
The services are planned such that the commuters can travel to the jetties such as Ernakulam and take feeder services to catch metro trains. “The boats will operate at an optimal speed of eight knots, with the potential to increase up to 12 knots, once the dedicated water transit corridor is established. The Ernakulam boat jetty will be developed to accommodate feeder bus operation and parking lot,“ the official said.
