Kochi Water Metro: Total ridership crosses mark

18 Oct 2023 CW Team

The Kochi Water Metro has reached a significant milestone by surpassing 10 lakh total ridership, marking this achievement just six months after the service's inauguration. Sanha Fatima, a Class VI student hailing from Manjeri in Malappuram, had the distinction of acquiring the ticket that marked the crossing of the 10 lakh ridership threshold.

Sanha Fatima, accompanied by her family, embarked on a Water Metro journey from High Court Junction terminal to Vypeen, symbolizing the growth of this unique mode of transportation. In recognition of this milestone, KMRL director (finance) S Annapoorani and Kochi Water Metro Chief Operating Officer Sajan P John presented a gift to the young passenger.

The Kochi Water Metro, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25, is the country's first Water Metro service. At present, it operates 12 boats across three key routes: High Court Junction to Vypeen, High Court to Bolgatti, and Vyttila to Kakkanad.

According to KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited), the Water Metro boats typically see an average ridership of 8,000 to 9,000 on weekends, while on other days, the figures hover around 4,000. In the initial days following its launch, the Water Metro experienced a surge in passenger numbers, with daily ridership exceeding 11,000. However, this number later settled to around 3,000 after the reopening of schools.

The ridership reached the five lakh mark on July 9, reflecting the growing popularity of the Kochi Water Metro as an integral part of the city's public transportation network. This achievement underscores the success of the innovative service and its role in enhancing the urban mobility landscape.

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