Kolkata To Get Water Metro Under Rs 227 Billion Plan

16 Jun 2026 CW Team

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that Kolkata will soon be connected by a Water Metro network and that a proposal worth Rs 227 billion (Rs 227 bn) is being prepared for implementation over the next five years. He said the scheme would make the city the eighteenth in India to adopt this mode of transport and that officials were studying the model established in Kochi. The announcement framed the project as a modernisation of river transport infrastructure intended to provide a reliable alternative to congested road links across the Hooghly River.

The plan will prioritise coastal fishing infrastructure, development of islands and a range of maritime works alongside passenger services. Officials indicated that the programme includes construction of 44 new jetties to improve boarding and interchange facilities and that shore-side amenities and last-mile connections would be upgraded. Investment will target vessel procurement, electrification of services and integration with existing urban transport nodes.

Kochi’s Water Metro, launched in 2021, served as the template for the proposals and was cited for its use of battery-powered electric vessels produced by Cochin Shipyard Limited. That system operates with more than 75 e-boats across 15 routes and covers over 75 kilometres of waterways, delivering improved last-mile connectivity and reducing pressure on road networks. The Kochi experience was presented as evidence that scaled water transit can enhance urban mobility while lowering emissions.

Officials asserted that the Kolkata Water Metro would offer a fast, eco-friendly option for commuters and help ease peak-hour congestion by providing an alternative river crossing to existing bridges. The scheme was described as likely to assist residents of riverside and island communities by offering faster, more reliable journeys where road access is limited. Authorities said preparatory work and detailed designs would proceed before phased implementation.

Infrastructure Transport

15 Jul 2026

Railways To Operate Over 300 Special Trains For Rath Yatra

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Indian Railways (IR) will operate more than 300 special trains for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha and over 100 special trains during the Onam festival in Keralam. He flagged off the Nanded–Mumbai and Tanakpur–Nanded Express trains and inaugurated the extension of the Tanakpur–Pilibhit service up to Shahjahanpur via video conference from Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar. He noted that the summer season, which concluded on 30 June, had seen a record 15,000 special trains. Vaishnaw stated that the newly launched services are intende..

Vande Bharat Express To Start From Tripura Soon

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Tripura in the coming days after he flagged off the Agartala–Karimganj MEMU service at Agartala Railway Station. He recalled the rail history of the state, noting that a metre-gauge service first arrived in 1964 and that broad gauge reached Agartala in 2008 following national projects and later upgrades under the Act East policy. The event was described as a milestone for regional connectivity and the MEMU was presented as the first electric passenger train to originate from Tripura.\n\nSaha said he..

MEMU Suspension Disrupts Commuters Between Vadodara And Dahod

The Vadodara–Dahod Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) service has been temporarily suspended for 26 days after its rake was diverted to Odisha to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Indian Railways redeployed several MEMU rakes from different zones to meet the additional travel demand for the festival scheduled from the seventh of July to the second of August. As a result, train numbers 69233 and 69234 operating between Vadodara and Dahod will remain cancelled for the duration. Railway authorities advised passengers to use alternative train service..