If everything goes as planned, the water metro service will soon be operational in Mangalore on the model of Kochi in Kerala. As proposed by CM Siddaramaiah in the last budget, the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) is preparing a DPR for the water metro project in Mangalore.
Mangaluru, Nov. 5: If everything goes as planned, the water metro service will soon be operational in Mangaluru on the model of Kochi in Kerala. As proposed by CM Siddaramaiah in the last budget, the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) is preparing a DPR for the water metro project in Mangaluru.
Since the city of Mangaluru is surrounded by the Netravati and Phalguni rivers, a plan has been made to bring the water metro to life on the same route as in Kochi. Under the National Water Transport Project, the state government has planned to bring metro transport from Bajal in Netravati to Maravoor and Gurupura via the Phalguni river.
The length of the Netravati to Maravoor on the Falguni river is 30 km, and there is water throughout the year due to the backwater of the sea. Therefore, it has been proposed to bring water transport starting from Bajal and going along the Netravati river to Bengre, Alavegailu, Bolur, Sultan Bathery, Kulur, Maravoor, Gurupur to encircle the entire city of Mangalore. In between, there will be 17 stations along the way to get off and on the boat in the style of metro stations.
After Kochi, plans have been made to bring the country’s second water metro transport to Mangalore, thereby opening the way for the development of the historical city and new possibilities. This will also improve tourism and the standard of living of the people, a Karnataka Maritime Board official said in a response to the media. Water transport is nature-friendly and does not allow for environmental pollution. Electric boats will be used for transportation purposes in a modern model, he said.
In the Karnataka Budget for 2024-25, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated that he had sought a feasibility report on arranging water transport between Gurupura and Netravati in Mangaluru. In addition to this, it is interesting that the Maritime Board has informed that it is preparing a DPR for bringing water transport. Recently, a tender was called by the Maritime Board to prepare a DPR, in which information about infrastructure, water taxi layout, financial requirements, and project nature have been sought. Also, the DPR will include information about the benefits that people can get from water transport in Mangaluru, the challenges faced, the resources required for it, and the formulas for success.
In addition, a survey will be included to determine the area required for the establishment of a water metro station and whether it is necessary for people to travel. Water metro transport will avoid excessive congestion near the old fishing port in Mangaluru. Also, it is estimated that there will be an opportunity to use Ro-Ro services for freight transport. There are thoughts about using water transport for freight transport, similar to passenger services. Based on the growth potential and demand of the city in the next 25 years, a survey will be conducted to determine where it would be best to build a metro station and which project is nearby.
The country’s first water metro Kochi
The Kochi Water Metro project is the country’s first water metro service, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 25, 2023. The Kochi waterway will have 78 boats, 38 jetties including a water metro terminal, and will connect 10 islands in the Vembanad Lake surrounding Kochi, covering a total length of 76 km. This fully air-conditioned metro transport is connected to the Kochi Metro rail system and is connected to the bus terminal, metro network and railways. The Kochi Water Metro has two types of passenger boats with a capacity of 100 and 50 people.
In January 2024, Prime Minister Modi virtually inaugurated the 14 km long water metro transport implemented in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The water metro will run on the Sarayu river and will be used to transport tourists and pilgrims between Ayodhya and Guptahar Ghat.
Karnataka’s coastal city Mangaluru is likely to get a Water Metro on the lines of Kerala’s Kochi. Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has decided to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), which aims to connect isolated areas through an integrated water transport system
