Kochi Water Metro celebrates first anniversary, passenger footfall nears 20-lakh mark

Kochi: Kochi Water Metro, a first-of-its-kind public transport initiative in the country, has completed one year of service. The water metro recorded a footfall of 19,72,247 passengers in its first year.

What started as nine specially designed boats conducting services along two routes has become a network of five routes with 14 boats today. Recently, services commenced to the Fort Kochi terminal, a tourist hotspot in the city.

The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) manages the Water Metro. With its novelty being a major attraction, the Water Metro services were availed more by tourists than daily commuters, according to the management.

"Our focus is to encourage the island dwellers of Kochi to use Water Metro for their daily commutation. Though the tickets are priced between Rs 20 to Rs 40, regular passengers can make use of our trip passes and travel for charges as low as Rs 10," KMRL said in a statement.

Though new routes have been opened, the shortage of boats remains a concern for the company. Works on the terminals at Kumbalam, Paliyamthuruth, Willingdon Island, Kadamakudy and Mattanchery are progressing. Ahead of the completion of the works, the Cochin Shipyard has agreed to deliver five more boats to the KMRL.

No official celebration will be conducted on the first anniversary since the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections is in place. Music concerts will be held at terminals in a bid to attract more passengers. The concerts will be held at the High Court terminal on Thursday and on April 28, followed by a flash mob on April 29. Water Metro authorities will make arrangements for music troupes that wish to perform at the terminals.