A UNIQUE WATER MARK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made another whirlwind trip to Kerala in the last week of April where he flagged off two pathbreaking projects, the state's first Vande Bharat semi-high speed express train and the inland Water Metro. The latter is an integrated ferry transport system which will cater to the Greater Kochi region.

- Jeemon Jacob

The business capital of Kerala is the first city in India to get this unique traffic commuter facility. Some 10 islands on the outer reaches of its coastal archipelago, slung along a complicated map of estuaries and backwaters and hence a logistical headache in terms of road commute, will be connected. Doing the honours will be a fleet of 78 battery-operated electric hybrid boats, flitting to and fro between 38 terminals with intelligent navigation systems, on 15 routes that together span about 78 km.

The Rs 1,137 crore project impressed in its first ride on April 25. Among the first passengers were a number of disabled children and their parents who travelled from Vypeen to the High Court jetty on the mainland. While launching the project, PM Modi extolled the Kerala government initiative to introduce a ferry service which is eco-friendly and a viable answer to the traffic chaos in Kochi.