A team of senior officials from German Development Bank KfW is scheduled to arrive in the city on May 30 to hold discussions with Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) authorities on a proposed €80-million loan for developing waterways in and around Kochi.
The money would go into inducting high-speed passenger boats, building roads on islands, improving landing facilities such as jetties and livelihood improvement programmes for the islanders.
KMRL managing director Elias George said at a workshop here on Tuesday that if the talks concluded by the end of the month, the loan money could be drawn even as early as December.
The German team was in Kochi at the end of February to take a first-hand look at the Metro rail project and to take stock of the condition of the waterways that need improvement. The waterways are being improved to integrate the metro rail facility with the water transport system.
The expected loan of about Rs. 624 crore will go into the induction of hi-tech boats and the setting up of jetties with better public amenities.
