Kochi Metro Rail Limited closed 2025 with record-breaking ridership across its integrated transport network comprising metro rail, water metro and electric feeder buses, reflecting sustained growth in urban mobility demand.

During the year, more than 36.5 million passengers travelled on the metro rail, marking a growth of 4.2 per cent over 2024 and a four-fold increase compared with 2017, its first full year of operations. Cumulative metro rail ridership has now crossed 175 million passengers. The water metro recorded over 2.33 million passengers in 2025, registering a 15 per cent rise from the previous year and an increase of nearly 1 million compared with 2023, when services were launched. Over the past three years, more than 5.7 million passengers have used the water metro.

December once again emerged as a peak month for both services, with the water metro benefiting significantly from tourist inflows linked to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. The holiday rush to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry drove daily ridership consistently above 10,000 passengers, particularly between December 24 and 31. The High Court–Fort Kochi route recorded the highest demand during this period.

Metro rail services carried 3.27 million passengers in December, with traffic surging towards the end of the month. Ridership stood at 124,639 passengers on December 30 and exceeded 139,000 on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, total metro network usage crossed 160,000 passengers, with 139,766 using the metro rail and about 15,000 travelling on the water metro.

Single-day water metro ridership peaked at 17,058 passengers on December 28, surpassing the earlier record set in December 2024. While final figures for New Year’s Day are still being compiled, Kochi Water Metro Limited reported its highest-ever single-day revenue of about Rs 44.7 million, indicating another record performance.

Monthly metro rail ridership has remained steady in recent months, with 3.17 million passengers in September, 3.04 million in October and 3.11 million in November, pointing to sustained commuter confidence. Managing Director Loknath Behera said punctual operations, cleanliness, hygiene and staff conduct played a key role in building public trust, which was evident during the New Year celebrations.

He added that the deployment of 15 electric feeder buses connecting metro stations and water metro terminals across multiple routes has strengthened first- and last-mile connectivity. The feeder bus services also saw strong festive demand, recording a single-day high of 6,817 passengers on December 31, when services were operated through New Year’s Eve for the first time, running until 4 am.