Asian, African countries keen to emulate Kochi Water Metro

Several countries have evinced interest in emulating electric hybrid ferries like the ones that Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML) has been operating in the Greater Kochi area since April 2023.

Loknath Behera, managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), said that it was too premature to mention the names of the Asian and African countries since the Centre’s clearance was needed. “As of now, at least four of these countries have been keenly pursuing the matter with us. They are expected to provide us with details of their requirements and also aspects like the type of waterbody through which the ferries are expected to operate,” he said.

In addition, there were enquiries from a host of Indian cities as well that were eager to emulate the Kochi Water Metro project. Among them, KWML would shortly ready a detailed project report (DPR) for Mumbai, for which a team is already in that city for works like identifying locations for ferry terminals, Mr. Behera added.

KWML had earlier this year submitted a feasibility report for the project.

On enquiries from other countries, Sajan P. John, chief operating officer of KWML, said international delegates who were in Kochi for conferences were impressed with the electric-hybrid vessels. This is apart from the cost advantage — each Kochi Water Metro ferry, built at the Cochin Shipyard cost ₹7.60 crore as compared to approximately ₹20 crore per ferry if they were to be built in Europe, Mr. John said.

Interestingly, KWML is preparing to conduct a feasibility study to introduce Water Metro ferries in Alappuzha and Kollam.

Additional loan

Meanwhile, KWML is awaiting a Euro 24 million loan from KfW, a German lending agency, to further extend the operations of Water Metro ferries in the Greater Kochi area. This was necessitated since the project cost was calculated based on the 2015 estimate. The delay in getting environmental clearance and the pandemic further delayed the rollout of the project. All this caused cost escalation, which needed to be catered to from the additional loan from KfW, it is learnt.

Mr. Behera said that the State government had been informed of the cost escalation, and that KWML was hopeful of getting its permission for the additional loan.