Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has started the process of building up infrastructure for the Water Metro project by shooting off letters to panchayats and the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) seeking lands to be handed over to it. The project, which envisages to provide water connectivity to people living on islands in the Kochi agglomeration area and the city, has been put on the fast track following the selection of ‘AECOM Consortium’ as the General Consultant.
“We are keeping the land acquisition to the minimum and our efforts are to get government-owned land from other agencies to set up infrastructural facilities like floating jetties and parking spaces. A letter has been handed over to the SWTD seeking space at Ernakulam boat jetty, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Vypeen boat jetties. Similarly we have asked the panchayats under which the islands fall to hand over required land,” said a senior metro official. The services are planned in such a way that commuters from the islands 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 be increased to 12 knots, once the dedicated water transit corridor is established. The Ernakulam boat jetty is to be developed so as to accommodate feeder bus operation and a parking lot. “ The project will give focus on the safety of passengers. It is proposed that the jetties will have floating pontoons with an automatic docking system technology. The pontoons will be covered with re-traceable sheds so as to provide cover during the rainy season.
The total cost of the project is Rs 747 crore, excluding Rs 72 crore for land acquisition, of which KfW would give a financial assistance to the extent of 85 million Euros, i.e. approximately Rs 597 crore as a long term soft loan. Rs 102 crore would be contributed by the state government. 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.
