Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Tuesday, Kerala’s first water metro, which will link the islands of Kochi to the mainland, will be officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a cost of Rs. 1,136.83 crore, the first-of-its-kind project with air-conditioned boats is being unveiled in the port city. It will allow residents of Kochi and the surrounding area to travel in safety, comfort, and on a budget while also promoting tourism and economic development.
Eight electric hybrid boats will be the first component of this innovative urban mass transportation system, which is being supported by the Government of Kerala and the German company KfW. The routes are Highcourt to Vypin and Vyttila to Kakkanad. Without getting trapped in traffic, commuters would be able to travel from High Court Terminal to Vypin Terminal in under 20 minutes and from Vyttila to Kakkanad in under 25 minutes. The floating pontoons that can maintain the same level with the boat throughout eavesdropping and descending periods are Kochi Water Metro’s expertise. 38 terminals and 78 electric boats make up the entire project.
A boat trip requires a minimum ticket price of Rs 20. For frequent travelers, there are weekly and monthly passes available. Using a Kochi One Card, one may ride on the Kochi Metro Rail and Kochi Water Metro. The Kochi One App allows users to digitally purchase tickets. A 12-trip weekly pass will cost Rs 180, while a 50-trip monthly pass would cost Rs 600. Passengers may book 150 rides with the quarterly pass for Rs. 1,500 over the course of 90 days.
Operations from the High Court to Vypin will begin on April 26 at 7 am, and from Vyttila to Kakkanad on April 27 at 7 am. During peak hours, boats will run on the High Court to Vypin route every 15 minutes. The service will go on till 8 o’clock.
