Four more cities selected for Water Metro feasibility study
Kochi Water Metro model
in other parts of the country, four more cities in three states were selected for conducting a feasibility study on implementation of the project.
As per central govt's directive,
KMRL
earlier decided to conduct feasibility study in 17 locations, and now four more locations were added. The proposed locations are
Cuttack and Chilika
in Odisha and
Tezpur and Dibrugarh
in Assam.
With the addition of new locations, the study is now being conducted in 21 urban centres in Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Goa, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Union territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
According to Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) authorities, preliminary works of feasibility study commenced in Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Patna, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Cuttack, Chilika, Kolkata, Dhubri, Mangaluru, Kollam, Alappuzha, Mumbai and Mumbai Vasai. Phase I of feasibility assessments is complete in Prayagraj, Varanasi and Ayodhya.
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"The studies — led by expert civil and marine engineers — assess quality of waterbodies and nature of water flow, population density, potential docking locations, traffic data and propulsion feasibility. Stakeholder consultations are held at each proposed site and tenders were issued for supporting traffic studies," says a press note issued by KWML.
A feasibility study for implementing Water Metro in Mumbai was completed and submitted at the request of Maharashtra govt.
KMRL managing director Loknath Behera said Water Metro model will bring sustainability in public transport and decongest roads at an affordable cost. "World Bank also expressed its interest in partnering with the initiative," he said.
KWML informed that Cochin Shipyard will deliver one more Water Metro boat soon. "So far, 19 boats were delivered and trial runs for one of the remaining four are currently under way. This vessel is expected to be operational within six weeks," says the press note.
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