KOCHI: After a year's wait, the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro will start operations on April 25. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi presses the button on a remote at Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium at 11 am, the first boat from the High Court Terminal will set sail to Vypin. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kochi Metro Rail MD Loknath Behera and others will participate in the ceremony.

There will be no service for the public on the first day. Boats will run every 15 minutes in the morning and evening. At other times the service will be at 20-30 minute intervals. Later, the service will also be started on the Vyttila-Kakkanad route. The water transport system is the first in the country to include silent AC electric boats with modern systems and world-class terminals. Although the Prime Minister is coming to Kochi to inaugurate the Yuvam program to be held at Thevara Sacred Heart College ground on April 24, the Water Metro inauguration was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram as there are only party programs here.

8 boats, 8 terminals

Eight aluminum catamaran boats are ready for service. There are 23 big boats, 55 small boats and 38 terminals in the Rs 736 crore project. Construction of small boats has not started. The service is on 15 routes with a length of 76 km. Vyttila, Kakkanad, High Court, Vyppin, Bolgatty, South Chittoor, Eloor and Cheranallur terminals are ready. The water metro will provide a solution to the traffic problems of the 10 islands and boost the tourism sector.

Features

• Double hull

• Passengers- 100

• Employees -3

• The cost of the boat is Rs 7.6 crores

• 10-15 minutes for charging

• It will run for one and a half hours