The Shipping Ministry is looking to replicate the success of Kochi Water Metro in other cities, with officials eyeing Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Goa as potential locations. The observation came after a review meeting of the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) on Tuesday.
The virtual meeting, chaired by MoPSW Secretary T.K. Ramachandran, gathered senior officials from approximately 30 states and Union Territories to discuss the comprehensive development of maritime and waterways transport across India.
Transformation in the water transport sector
Ramachandran suggested that the Kochi Water Metro model could be adopted in other states, such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Goa. The Kochi Water Metro, which completed one year of operations on April 25, 2024, has brought about a significant transformation in the water transport sector in the state.
He also emphasized the importance of the Sagarmala Programme and the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in enhancing India’s maritime heritage and infrastructure.
State Maritime and Waterways Transport Corporations (SMWTCs) have been established in 13 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Lakshadweep. There are plans to establish SMWTCs in all 30 coastal and waterways states and Union Territories of India.