Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has expanded its national footprint by submitting a comprehensive feasibility study report for implementing a water metro system in Mumbai, covering the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) modelled on the successful Kochi Water Metro Project.
The report was submitted to the Maharashtra Ports and Fisheries Minister, Nitish Rane, by KMRL’s consultancy division.
The proposed project envisions connecting various water bodies including Vaitarna, Vasai, Manori, Thane, Panvel and Karanja creeks, effectively covering the entire MMR. The report, prepared within a record timeframe, outlines a 250-km waterway network with 29 terminals and a fleet of 10 routes.
Impressed by the detailed and timely submission, Rane appreciated the KMRL team and formally accepted the report. He also instructed the concerned departments to initiate steps towards implementing the project. Accordingly, detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared.
Consulting assignment
Notably, this marks the first instance where KMRL has secured a consulting assignment through a competitive bidding process, establishing its credentials as a national-level player in sustainable urban transport solutions.
The study was presented at a high-level meeting chaired by Rane. The KMRL team was led by Chief General Manager Shaji P. Janardhanan, along with Senior Deputy General Manager Nishanth N. and Manager Arjun Krishna K. The meeting was also attended by Maharashtra Maritime Board CEO M Pradeep Prabhakar, IAS, and Chief of Ports Capt. Praveen Khare.
KMRL’s Consultancy Division has emerged as a strategic unit leveraging the organisation’s deep expertise in infrastructure development. The division not only enhances KMRL’s revenue streams, but also plays a vital role in replicating the acclaimed Kochi Water Metro model in other cities across the country.
As directed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, KMRL is currently conducting feasibility studies for water metro systems in 21 other cities across 11 States and two Union Territories.
If further entrusted with DPR preparation and subsequent implementation, experts believe KMRL is poised to evolve into a global brand in the sustainable urban water transport sector—mirroring the stature held by DMRC in India’s metro rail ecosystem.