KOCHI: A prime tourist spot in Kochi, Marine Drive, will soon get an advanced boat jetty, Marina and a boat jetty complex with all modern amenities. The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) and the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard on Wednesday. The project is being implemented as part of the Rs 747 crore Water Metro project of the KMRL which aims to create a modern water transport infrastructure in the Greater Kochi region.
“The integrated jetty facility will accommodate water metro operations and also cater to the needs of tourist boats, which will provide safe and secure access to tourists and passengers, without affecting free movement of pedestrians on the marine drive walkway. The move will also facilitate the growth of tourism sector here,” according to KMRL spokesperson.
The new boat jetty and related infrastructure facilities should be set up in the land owned by GCDA between the existing KINCO jetty and the boat jetty from where the services to Mulavukadu area are conducted. As per agreement, the land will be provided by GCDA. More details including revenue sharing will be disclosed later, the officer said.
After exchanging the MoU, AECOM Consortium, which is the general consultant (GC) for the Water Metro project, will come up with a proper plan for the project which includes design, maintenance and operation. The general consultant is in charge of the project management, planning and construction, supervision for finalisation of routes, carrying out study on the types of boats to be purchased and construction of new jetties.
However, as per the initial plan, there will be a floating jetty for passenger services, a Marina which will help yachts and small tourist vessels to dock at Marine Drive and a state-of-the-art jetty complex. The building will have refreshment area for passengers, rest rooms and commercial spaces. The Water Metro project envisages the rolling out of 78 modernised boats along 16 routes, connecting 38 jetties in Kochi.
The agreement will be signed by Konain Khan, General Manager (Operation, Maintenance and Water Transport), KMRL and MC Joseph, Secretary, GCDA in the presence of GCDA chairman C Mohanan, and KMRL managing director Elias George. The signing will take place at the office of the KMRL.
Revamp
The project is being implemented as part of the D747 crore Water Metro project of the KMRL
The KMRL and GCDA will sign an MoU in this regard on Wednesday
A month goes by
Kochi: The Kochi Metro, which commenced commercial services between Aluva and Palarivattom successfully completed one month of operation on Tuesday. KMRL authorities said just short of one day to the first month of operations, the Metro earned D4.62 crore. The ridership varied from 20,000 to 98,000 during the month. The average daily ridership was 47,646.
The traffic was more on holidays, but maintained an average ridership of around 20,000 during weekdays. “While completing one month of operation, the KMRL is happy about the cooperation and patronage shown by the passengers,” said a KMRL officer. The KMRL authorities hope the system will attract more regular passengers once the services are extended up to Maharaja’s College by September. “We will introduce facilities like daily pass, monthly pass and Smart Cards by then,” the KMRL spokesperson.