Kochi : Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) has fast-tracked the buy of 15 new electric ferries to expand its eco-friendly transport network across the city’s backwaters.
A feasibility study indicated that while the Kadamakkudy island cluster has a modest resident population of 17,000, it has become a major tourism hotspot. Peak-hour waiting times on key corridors are expected to drop from 15–20 minutes to just 10 minutes. For the proposed High Court–Kadamakkudy section, the agency is considering specialised tourist services with higher fares. The fleet expansion aims to meet rising commuter demand and improve service frequency on high-traffic routes like High Court–Fort Kochi and Vyttila–Kakkanad. To support the expanded fleet, KMRL is upgrading marine infrastructure. Additional floating pontoons and charging systems will be installed at major hubs, including High Court, Vyttila, and South Chittoor terminals.