In a significant move to expand its national presence, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has submitted a detailed feasibility study for launching a Water Metro project in Mumbai, modelled after its successful initiative in Kochi. The proposed system aims to create a 250-kilometre waterway network across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), comprising 29 terminals and 10 routes.

The report was formally submitted to Maharashtra Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitish Rane, who has directed relevant departments to initiate steps for project implementation. A senior KMRL official expressed optimism that the Maharashtra government will assign KMRL the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), citing the Minister’s appreciation for the quality and timeliness of the feasibility study.

The proposed Mumbai Water Metro will link major water bodies and creeks such as Vaitarna, Vasai, Manori, Thane, Panvel, and Karanja, offering a sustainable and integrated alternative to the city's road and rail transport systems.

The study was earlier presented at a high-level meeting in Mumbai, chaired by Minister Rane. The KMRL team, led by Chief General Manager Shaji P Janardhanan, was joined by senior officials from the Maharashtra Maritime Board, including CEO M Pradeep Prabhakar, IAS, and Chief of Ports Capt. Praveen Khare.

This project marks the first competitive consultancy win for KMRL, establishing its credentials as a key player in sustainable urban transport. The organisation’s Consultancy Division, which prepared the feasibility report in record time, is emerging as a strategic business vertical, enabling replication of the Kochi Water Metro model across India.

Currently, under directives from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), KMRL is conducting similar feasibility studies for water metro systems in 21 cities across 11 states and two Union Territories.

Experts believe that if entrusted with the DPR and implementation of Mumbai’s Water Metro, KMRL could position itself as a national and global leader in urban water transit—paralleling the role of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in conventional metro infrastructure.