Exploring more options on water transport as a feeder system to the metro rail, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Tuesday held discussions with various stakeholders in the network, even as it said that the topic would figure in the KMRL’s director board meeting scheduled in New Delhi on January 20.
According to KMRL, the meeting deliberated on the various aspects of establishing an enhanced water transport network around the city, including the development of boat jetties and routes to be operated. Representatives from the Corporation, State Water Transport Department, Eloor and Maradu municipalities, Elankunnappuzha, Kumbalam, Mulavukadu, Kadamakkudy and Varappuzha panchayats attended the meeting. Last month, a joint team of Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) - the agency entrusted to prepare a detailed project report on the network - and KMRL had visited the probable water routes in the city. Experts from UMTC are expected to visit all the islands in the coming days to understand the existing internal transport system and the traffic patterns.
KMRL had prepared a preliminary project report and submitted to KFW Development Bank, Germany, for the funding of water transport. But the bank asked for a more comprehensive and detailed project report.
The proposal envisages deployment of modern boats that are faster and more comfortable than the existing lot, renovation of boat jetties and augmentation of public transport near these jetties.
Meanwhile, an official statement from KMRL said the agenda for the 19th director board meeting on January 20 included a proposal for revamping the water transport system in Kochi with the help of external funding agencies and the proposal for the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) strategy for Kochi Metro project.
The meeting will also discuss the proposal for availing an additional loan of Rs. 470 crore for land acquisition on behalf of the State government to expedite the work of Kochi Metro beyond Vyttila and review the status of the project.
