A feasibility study for developing Urban Water Transport System in various cities of India, is commissioned by the IWAI Board.
Urban Water Transport System in various cities of India may soon become a reality, with Water Metro Transport System being planned in 17 cities across 12 states of India. So far, in India, the Greater Kochi (Greater Cochin) region in Kerala is the only place in India to have an Urban Water Metro transportation service.
Also, 6 electric catamarans for passenger ferry service to be soon deployed in Mathura and Guwahati. There is already one each at Varanasi and Ayodhya.
As per the recent report today, on 21 February 2025, by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Govt. of India, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Board has decided to conduct feasibility study for developing Urban Water Transport System in various cities in India.
The IWAI Board is set to explore Water Metro Transport systems, in full or in part, in 17 cities across 12 states in India. As per the report, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has been assigned to conduct this feasibility study.
IWAI has chosen these 17 cities in consultation with Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. As per the report, the 17 cities or regions chosen for developing water metro are - Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Dhubri and Guwahati in Assam, Goa (state), Alleppey and Kollam in Kerala, Kolkata in West Bengal, Patna in Bihar, Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir, Mumbai and Vasai in Maharashtra, Mangalore (Gurupura River) in Karnataka, the twin cities Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad (Sabarmati River) in Gujarat, as well as Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands where inter-island ferry services are being envisioned.
The Urban Water Transport System will connect the mainland with the adjoining municipalities or panchayat areas or islands, through waterways and this system is planned to be integrated with other modes of transport, to provide seamless connectivity to the locals and tourists or travellers alike, in such regions.
As per the report, the Urban or Metro Water Transport Systems use non-polluting and sustainable measures, by using energy-efficient electric ferries and modernised terminals. It aims to ensure a seamless multi-modal connectivity in the cities or regions where it operates.
Just a few of days ago, in another report, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, had announced that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has envisioned the strengthening of urban water transport system to develop water metro projects across 18 cities in 12 states, which includes one in Guwahati in Assam, to replicate the Kochi Water Metro model — the Water Metro travel service which is active in Greater Cochin or Kochi region, in Kerala.
Kochi Water Metro (KWM) is a ferry transport system which connects the Greater Kochi region in Kerala, using electric hybrid boats. It's the first water metro system in India. Several places in Greater Cochin is already connected through this Water Metro System with Water Metro Stations being in place.
These Water Metro boats of Kochi have large windows for better views while travelling through the picturesque backwaters in and around Kochi. Kochi Water Metro also offers Travel Passes with discounted fares, based on set number of trips weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Whether the aforementioned selected cities or regions will actually get these Urban Water Metro systems or not, depends upon whether such a project is deemed to be feasible by the authorities. Depending on the results of the feasibility study conducted in a particular selected city or region, the authorities will decide whether to actually establish an Urban Water Metro Transport System at that place or not. As no time-frame is mentioned in their today's report of 21 February 2025, we're currently unable to say how long it may take for completion of these feasibility studies.
The recent report also adds that the Authority has taken several green initiatives, such as, procurement of electric catamarans to be used as passenger ferries, in line with the Harit Nauka guidelines. Two such electric catamarans are already deployed, with one being in Varanasi and the other in Ayodhya.
Six more electric catamarans are planned to be soon deployed in Mathura and Guwahati, as per the recent report. And in addition to that, a hydrogen fuel cell powered vessel has successfully completed its recent trials.
The Harit Nauka Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047, were both launched on January 11, last year in 2024.
Harit Nauka Guidelines aims to advance passenger transport through waterways, in an environment friendly and sustainable manner by promoting the adoption of low-emission fuels (such as CNG, LNG, electric, hydrogen, or methanol) as the propulsion fuel for inland vessel operations.
The River Cruise Tourism Road-map 2047 focuses on Infrastructure, Integration, Accessibility, and Policy for promoting river cruise tourism. As a part of the road map, over 30 possible routes and tourist circuits along inland waterways were identified for further development.
By developing water metro projects, in addition to the electric catamarans, the IWAI and MoPSW aim to strengthen the urban water transport system in India. In addition to this, MoPSW had recently announced that the Cruise Bharat Mission aims to establish 10 sea cruise terminals, 100 river cruise terminals, and five marinas across India, over the next 5 years, that is, by 2029.
- IWAI Board commissions feasibility study for Urban Water Transport System in 17 cities - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on PIB - Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi. Retrieved on 21 February 2025.
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal dedicates IWT terminal at Jogighopa to nation - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on PIB - Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 18 FEB 2025 5:30PM by PIB Delhi. Retrieved on 21 February 2025.
- Inland Waterways takes a giant step with IWDC towards fulfilling Maritime India Vision 2047 - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on PIB - Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 11 JAN 2024 1:00PM by PIB Delhi. Retrieved on 21 February 2025.