KOCHI: The first phase of Kochi Water Metro will begin on April 25. The boat from High Court terminal will head towards Vypin when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presses the button on the remote at Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium at 11 am. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kochi Metro Rail MD Loknath Behera and others will attend the event.

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

8 boats, 8 terminals

Eight aluminum Catamaran boats are ready for service. The 736-crore project includes 23 big boats, 55 small boats and 38 terminals. Construction of small boats has not started. The service is on 15 routes for a distance of 76 km. The terminals at Vytilla, Kakkanad, High Court, Vypin, Bolgatty, South Chittoor, Eloor and Cheranalloor terminals are ready. The water metro will provide a solution to the transportation issues of ten islands and will boost the tourism sector.

Features

• Double hull

• Passengers- 100

• Employees -3

• Cost of the boat – Rs 7.6 crore

• 10-15 minutes for charging

• It will run service for one and a half hours.