Integrated water project gets nod from Centre

The integrated water transport project mooted by Kochi Metro Rail Limited got a boost today with the Union government granting final approval for the ambitious project planned around scenic backwaters in Kochi region.
The Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, proposed the project to KfW, the German bank, which has agreed to fund the project with their recommendation, a KMRL release said.
It is expected to be included in the next Board of Directors of KfW, which will be held next month, it said.
The initiative for developing a modern water transport system for the Greater Kochi region under Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), include the introduction of modern water-craft, renovation of boat-jetties, re-development of access roads with street lights and provision of connectivity between the boat-jetties and the bus and metro stations.

The project would be financed as the 'climate friendly urban mobility' project under Indo-German Bilateral Cooperation.
The total cost of the project is Rs 741 crore excluding 72 crore for land acquisition, in which KfW would give financial assistance to the extent of EURO 85 million, approximately Rs 595 crore, as a long term soft loan.

A sum ofRs 102 crore would be contributed by the government of Kerala.
This is indeed a great moment for Kochi Metro Rail Limited, and it is a measure of the topicality and importance of the project that Centre has accorded sanction in a record time of seven weeks, it said.

The major part of the project is the procurement of
modernised boats. Two variants of air-conditioned and Wi-Fi enabled glass reinforced plastic (GRP) catamaran passenger ferries with passenger capacity of 50 and 100 respectively are recommended in the detailed project report prepared by UMTC.
The boats with diesel electric hybrid based propulsion system are recommended to operate at an optimal speed of 8 knots, which can go up to 12 knots, once the recommended dedicated water transit corridor is established.
Apart from the ferry service development, the project also recommends developing existing and new access roads providing increased accessibility to the jetties and also enhanced mobility within the islands, infrastructure for ensuring safety and security to all its users by way of active and well-lit streets and CCTV cameras.

The major jetties or the main boat hubs shall be developed with Wi-Fi enabled social recreational opportunities around the jetty locations.
Tourism is also proposed to be promoted as part of the project.
A total of 16 out of 38 jetties will be developed in the first phase, the release added.