Kochi is the commercial capital of Kerala and is also one of the big cities in South India. It is the most crowded city in Kerala. The Kochi Metro came at a time when the city was suffocating in terms of traffic. There is no point in criticizing it for not being profitable. No metro in the world has ever been profitable in the beginning. Beyond the profit and loss, the emphasis should be on how much it decongests the city's traffic. Delhi Metro was also not profitable initially. Even those who criticized it then are beneficiaries of Metro today. Metro has today paved the way to reach anywhere in the city of Delhi without snarled in traffic. However, another boon that Kochi has that Delhi does not have is the abundance of inland waterways. That's something that many other cities don't have.

Earlier, not only in Kochi but in the whole of Kerala, movement of goods and travel were done through backwaters and streams. With the advent of faster road transport, water transport became irrelevant. However, modern times have started realizing many advantages of water transport. Firstly, environmental impact is very low. Expenses will be low and there will be no traffic jams. Water travel is more enjoyable than road and rail transports. From such realizations, the idea of a comprehensive water metro for Kochi arose in 2014.

When the project reached its final stage, Kochi Water Metro Company was formed under Kochi Metro Rail in 2021.

It is a company in which the centre and the state each have a share of 50%. The company is implementing a huge project worth Rs 743 crore for the development of inland water transport in Kochi. 15 routes spanning 76 km and 38 jetties connecting 10 islands are part of the project. The latest news is that the Water Metro has been ready for months but the delay is as the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate it. The first phase is to be inaugurated on the Ernakulam-Vyppin route. The crew and the boat are ready after the trial. As the Kazhakootam flyover was inaugurated before Union Minister Gadgari's arrival, its service can also be started. The delay in the formal inauguration will not dull its sheen.

The water metro terminal behind the high court has been given the look of an airport. Boats are hybrids and AC. There is no audible sound when traveling in a normal boat. You can enjoy the beauty of the lake through the wide glass windows. India's first aluminium passenger boats were manufactured by Kochi Shipyard. In the future, when all 15 routes are ready, there will be a leap in the development possibilities of Kochi centered on the islands. Experts say that the water metro system like the one in Kochi is the first in the world. This project will make the country proud.