Kochi Water Metro considering hopon hopoff trips for tourists
Talks to be held with local bodies for launching project; efforts on to usher in first and lastmile connectivity from terminals
Atotal of 18.36 lakh commuters travelled in Kochi Water Metro ferries, 11 months since the commissioning of the project on April 25 with nine ferries.
As many as 13 electrichybrid ferries now operate on five routes. Next in line would be the commencement of the muchawaited service in the High CourtFort Kochi corridor, prior to which Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) had improved the walkway on the Fort Kochi beachfront and also installed ample number of lights on it, says a release issued by the metro agency.
Dedicated trips
Efforts are on to usher in first and lastmile connectivity from various ferry terminals. Local bodies must play their part to attract tourists by readying infrastructure for activities such as angling and other entertainment modes. Talks will be held with local bodies for launching hopon hopoff boat services to the islands. Dedicated trips will be organised, if needed, to ferry tourists, KWML said.
The project that was envisaged to have 23 ferries in its phase one has come to be known across the country as a sustainable mode of commute as can be gauged from enquiries pouring in from various States. Being a unique project in the country, the number of tourists checking out the ferries is often more than the number of commuters.
KWML will give renewed emphasis to attracting people from the islands to the ferries.
Regular commuters can avail different passes and travel for as low as ₹10, although the fare structure is in the ₹20 to ₹40 price range.
A Water Metro ferry commuter can travel in the South ChitoorHigh Court Junction corridor by paying ₹10, while the bus fare is ₹18. Weekly, monthly and quarterly passes are available for ₹180, ₹600, and ₹1,500 respectively, using which commuters can make 12, 50 and 150 trips.
There are constraints in operating more trips from the High Court terminal to locales like South Chittoor, Eloor, and Cheranalloor owing to limited number of ferries that are at present available with KWML. It is hoped that the Cochin Shipyard would deliver the rest of the 10 ferries in a timebound manner, so that they could be deployed to newer routes where terminals are ready, including Fort Kochi.