Kerala’s Innovation Wave: Water Metro Draws National, International Interest

Thiruvananthapuram: “What Kerala does today, India will think about tomorrow.” Rajdeep Sardesai’s famous remark during the Covid crisis is once again proving true. From health care to social welfare to infrastructure, Kerala has often been a step ahead, setting models for the rest of the country. Now, the state’s latest achievement, the Kochi Water Metro, is quietly winning applause, even from those who often criticise the state government.

The Kochi Water Metro is India’s first public electric boat service, a project that combines technology, sustainability, and inclusive urban planning. Built to connect Kochi’s islands with the mainland, it is now drawing the attention of states across India, eager to replicate its success.

Loknath Behera, managing director of the Water Metro and Kochi Metro Rail Limited, says the “Kochi model” is adaptable wherever there are navigable water bodies. “Every state has its own geography. In Varanasi, Patna, and Kolkata you have rivers, in Odisha there is Chilika Lake, in Mumbai you have both sea and creeks. The vessels will vary, but the model of clean, affordable, and reliable water transport can work everywhere,” Behera explained.

Several states have already shown interest. Goa’s transport minister visited recently, and Kerala has been invited to conduct a feasibility study for a similar project there. Even countries like Malaysia have reached out, asking Kerala to share its expertise.

But scaling up is not without challenges. Vessel production is the biggest bottleneck. Cochin Shipyard, one of the largest in the world, can currently produce only five to six boats a year. “For Kochi alone we need 70 boats. Nationwide, we’ll need around 500 in the next three to four years. This requires a consortium of shipyards and private players,” Behera noted. Talks are underway with the Ministry of Shipping, while the World Bank has also expressed interest in supporting the initiative.

The numbers already tell a success story. Since its launch in April 2023, the Kochi Water Metro has carried over four million passengers in just two years. Once fully operational, it will connect 10 islands with 78 electric catamarans and 38 terminals, all part of a Rs 1,136 crore project.

Behera sees a future where the water metro becomes even more central to urban mobility. A canal rejuvenation project is already underway to bring more waterways into the network within the next four years.

Kerala’s model is clear: development must be sustainable, people-focused, and ahead of its time. Just as the state’s decentralised health system became a global case study during the pandemic, its water metro is now emerging as a blueprint for urban transport in India.

The Kochi Water Metro shows how vision, planning, and political will can turn natural geography into a modern solution, reducing traffic, cutting emissions, and connecting communities. Once again, Kerala has shown the way.