NEW DELHI : As the Centre prepares to roll out water metro systems across multiple Indian cities as part of its sustainable urban mobility strategy, the success of the Kochi Water Metro is shaping the blueprint for future projects.
However, officials say scaling the model nationwide will require far more than new vessels and terminals, calling for a dedicated Water Metro Act, uniform operating standards, a national regulatory authority and a stronger domestic manufacturing ecosystem to support large-scale deployment.
In an interview with Mint, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) Managing Director Loknath Behera said the country should introduce a dedicated law for water metro systems on the lines of the Metro Rail Act.
“There should be a separate Water Metro Act, just like the Metro Rail Act,” Behera was quoted as saying. “If the system has to be standardised across the country, there has to be one policy, one regulatory framework and one set of operating standards.”
The expansion drive comes as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways prepares the National Water Metro Guidelines, 2026, which will set standards for planning, financing, safety, environmental safeguards and the adoption of low- and zero-emission vessels for urban water transport.
KMRL, in partnership with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), has completed feasibility studies for 18 locations nationwide and is currently preparing detailed project reports for Mumbai and Goa.
Unlike conventional ferry services, the network combines scheduled operations, digital ticketing, multimodal connectivity and environmentally friendly electric vessels.
Behera stressed that scaling the concept nationally would also require expanding India’s specialised electric boat manufacturing capacity.
He said demand certainty and standardisation would encourage both public and private shipyards to invest in dedicated production facilities, potentially creating a domestic manufacturing ecosystem capable of serving future export markets.
He also suggested establishing a national authority to oversee future water metro systems, while positioning KMRL as a technical advisor to states implementing new projects.
