THE GREEN FERRY

A zero-pollution electric hybrid ferry service in the Kochi backwaters sets the bar high for future public transport systems

- By JEEMON JACOB

THE DRUDGERY

Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala and home to 3 million people, is also its most congested city, with vehicles crawling at 9-15 km per hour during peak traffic. It also has a swarm of islands dotting its neighbourhood, some of which, like Vypeen and Cherai, are among the most densely populated areas in the country. Thousands of people ply to the mainland and the interconnected islands everyday for work and pleasure, either by bus or using private vehicles, adding to the chaos on the narrow roads.

The Kochi water metro project was envisaged to reduce pollution and traffic congestion in the city and also ease access to the mainland for the islanders. To that end, it has identified 15 routes for development, connecting 10 islands along a backwaters network that spans 78 km. When fully operational, a fleet of 78 electrically propelled hybrid ferries will ply to 38 jetties along these routes, integrating the waterway system to the public transport network of the city.