Cochin Shipyard commences manufacturing of electric boats for Kochi Water Metro

Kochi, India (Urban Transport News): On Monday, the Chairman of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) said that they are set to deliver battery-driven passenger boats for Kochi Metro.

Furthermore, a total of 76 boats are going to be rolled out in a phased manner under this Water Metro Project. In addition to this, under the project new and old 41 boat jetties are to be modernized.

This Water Metro project is financially supported by KFW, the German Development Bank and implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL).

On Monday, Rs 747 crore Water Metro Project was launched followed by the plate cutting ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

Cochin Shipyard Ltd Chairman and MD Madhu S Nair said that Cochin Shipyard is ready to deliver battery-driven boats by the end of this year. And also appraising the Kochi Metro they said that Kochi Metro has always set the International level benchmark and also doing the same this time in Metro Water Project.

Although, the pandemic has resulted in adding many delays to the project finished boats will be there by December 2020.

In 2019 September, Cochin Shipyard Ltd was awarded this project worth Rs 175 crore for Water Metro.

Under this project, CSL has to construct 23 hybrid passenger boats by KMRL.

Additional Chief Secretary and KMRL MD Alkesh Kumar Sharma attended the plate cutting ceremony following the Covid-19 protocol. Alkesh praising the professionalism of CSL said he's excited for traveling in Water Metro and looking forward to the on-time delivery of the boats.

These boats will be charged by the electric propulsion system and will have the capacity of 100 passengers each.

The propulsion systems are going to be imported from foreign countries.