Kochi Water Metro: NATPAC to study project safety and sustainability

06 Jul 2021 CW Team

National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) will conduct a two year long study from July-end on the Rs 747-crore Kochi Water Metro project's sustainability and safety aspects.

NATPAC Director Samson Mathew told the media that the study would be covering the aspects like the quantum of investment in the project vis-a-vis manifold expected gains, like a fall in the air and sound pollution caused by other modes of transport when people shift to waterway transport, reduction in congestion and accidents, to name a few.

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) expects a daily footfall of 1 lakh by 2035 in the 78 Water Metro ferries that it will roll out based on the detailed project report (DPR).

Additionally, he said that the study would also cover aspects like gains on energy efficiency and safety fronts since water transport is considered the most energy-efficient and safest commute mode. The quantum of time that commuters save too will fall into the ambit of the study since the time saved can often be spent productively with family, for recreation, or in one's field of activity.

The patronage on the Vyttila-Kakkanad and city-West Kochi routes will be taken a look at by the expert team. In these two routes, KMRL has accorded priority in the beginning stages of operation. The study will also analyse how air-conditioned ferries affect patronage for other commute modes and the willingness shown by commuters to shift to water transport.

KMRL promised to support the study, including on sustainability aspects like solar panels that the metro agency has envisaged at boat jetties to generate power to recharge the battery-operated ferries scheduled to begin trial runs in a month or two.

Image Source

Also read: Kochi water metro to begin ops by end April

Also read: Kochi’s water transport project to cost Rs.15.28 bn

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..