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.