- By Shibra Siddiqui
- Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:35 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Inspired by the Kochi water metro, the Maharashtra government is working on an ambitious plan to provide a water transportation system to Mumbai and the extended suburbs. Nitesh Rane, minister for ports and fisheries in the Maharashtra cabinet, said that the government is planning to introduce a passenger water transport system in line with Kochi.
“This water metro system is being planned for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region,” India Today quoted Rane as saying. Rane further informed that Maharashtra will get its Detailed Project Report (DPR) done from the Kochi Water metro authorities. Rane said that the DPR preparation for the Mumbai system has been awarded to Kochi. As per the report, the DPR is expected to be ready in two months, and the project is anticipated to be launched in early 2026.
Maharashtra’s 720-meter-long coastline, which had potential for such water transport projects, remained unutilised. Despite pushes from the Maharashtra Maritime Board, the project got off the ground.
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A proposed project to develop locations along Mumbai's western coast has been overtaken by new infrastructure addition plans, including the coastal road. Key factors contributing to the stagnation of the project included - Rough seas along the western seaboard, hindering vessel operations for nearly six months annually, and anticipated low returns on investment.
Mumbai is connected to the mainland and Navi Mumbai and Alibagh on the eastern coast through water transport. However, sensitive installation and defence presence have prevented the area from being used for other projects. In 2021, Kochi in Kerala became the first city in India to have a water metro project, with 23 battery-powered boats operating on the inland waterways in and around the city.
