Kochi becomes first city with water metro project with launch of electric boats

Kochi, January 11: Kochi has now become the first city with a water metro project as it launches the first in a series of battery-powered electric boats in the city. The new project by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd will have an integrated water transport system with 15 identified routes.

It will connect 10 islands along a network of routes that span 76 km with a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to 38 jetties. The project intended to introduce modern, energy-efficient, environment-friendly and safe boats with low wake and draft characteristics at a high frequency to increase ridership.

The project is expected to reduce pollution and traffic congestions considerably in the city, and ease access to business areas on the mainland for urban households situated along the Kochi lakeshore. Constructed at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd, the fully air-conditioned boats with wide windows offer comfortable travel, with lush views of the banks and backwaters.

This project has a total cost of Rs 819 crore. It uses LTO batteries, which is the latest in battery technology with a capability for fast charging.