Water Metro Expansion to Chittoor, Cheranelloor Unlikely to Materialise

08 Jan 2025 CW Team

Increasing the frequency of Water Metro services connecting South Chittoor and Cheranelloor routes is unlikely any time soon, as Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) is prioritising other routes such as Mattancherry and Bolgatty.

Water Metro terminals were opened at South Chittoor, Mulavukad North, Cheranelloor and Eloor in March last year. Currently, Water Metro operates only four services between High Court and South Chittoor, with two services each in the morning and evening. Only five services are being operated connecting both Cheranelloor and Eloor terminals. The interval between these services is more than one-and-a-half hours.

KWML has 17 boats and Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), makers of electric-hybrid boats for Water Metro, is expected to deliver two more to KWML soon. However, KWML is planning to open Mattancherry and Willingdon Island terminals in the coming weeks, with new services being launched connecting these terminals.

As KWML is struggling with insufficient number of boats, it is unlikely to increase the frequency of services connecting Chittoor and Cheranelloor routes. Water Metro services on these routes have received a poor response. "Untimely services, poor last-mile connectivity and a lack of boat services at regular intervals are cited as the main reasons for the low ridership on these routes. KWML should change the time schedule and increase the frequency," said Ebencer Chullikkad of Kochi Metro Passengers Association.

KWML offers discounts to daily commuters. While the ticket price is Rs 20-40, regular commuters can travel for up to Rs 10 using travel passes. While it costs Rs 18 to reach High Court by bus from South Chittoor, the public can travel the same distance for just Rs 10 with Water Metro travel passes.

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..