KMRL to Extend Water Metro Service to Infopark; Topographic Survey Tender Issued

Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is planning to extend Water Metro services to Infopark, the city's IT hub, and has invited tenders to conduct a topographic survey for the construction of the Infopark terminal and a boat yard at KINFRA.

The boat yard will be built on two acres of KMRL-owned land at KINFRA, while 50 cents has been earmarked for the Infopark terminal. A 500-metre connecting road has also been included in the survey scope. An underwater sounding survey will also be carried out to assess the route for boats and measure water depth.

Key challenges facing the project include the removal of the Kozhichira bund, which obstructs boat movement, and raising the height of the Brahmapuram bridge to allow boats to pass under it. Currently, the Water Metro route from Vyttila ends at the Kakkanad (Chittethukara) jetty. The plan is to extend the service a further 2.5 km along the Kadambriyar river to reach Infopark.

Meanwhile, Kochi's metro projects have been sidelined since the UDF government came to power, with Kochi Metro being overlooked even in the budget.