River Navigation Department (RND) Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said the Detailed Project Report for the proposed Goa Water Metro project will be completed within the next four months and that Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) will be responsible for preparing the document. The State Government aims to secure 100 per cent Central funding for the project and the briefing was attended by Loknath Behera, managing director of KMRL. The RND indicated that the department is committed to ensuring timely execution and that the Centre has prioritised Goa for inclusion in the first phase. Officials outlined that the DPR will set out deliverables and timelines to facilitate coordination across agencies.

The DPR is expected to provide a comprehensive roadmap covering route planning, project cost estimates, long term implementation strategy, tourism potential and traffic management impact. KMRL will produce technical assessments and integration plans to align riverine services with existing transport networks. The study will also examine vessel types, terminal facilities and operational models suitable for coastal and riverine conditions in Goa.

The first phase will cover nine river connectivity routes identified by the River Navigation Department and partners. The feasibility work cited proposed locations including Panaji, Betim, Divar, Chodan, Vanshi, Sarmanas, Narve, Aldona, Cortalim, Madkai, Adpai and Durbhat. Authorities said the route selection balances commuter demand, tourism potential and navigational feasibility, and that final alignment may be refined during detailed engineering.

Officials noted that the Water Metro is intended to reduce pressure on Goa’s roads by offering an alternative mode of transport and to ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity, boost tourism and generate new employment in coastal and riverine areas. The RND plans to present the DPR to the state government for approval after KMRL completes technical inputs. Further phases and funding modalities will be defined once the DPR is accepted and clear implementation milestones are set.