Kochi Metro bags ₹4.4 crore contract to prepare DPR for Mumbai Water Metro Proejct

Mumbai, India (Urban Transport News): In a major step toward transforming Mumbai’s maritime mobility, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has been awarded a prestigious contract by the Maharashtra government to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mumbai Water Metro, a first-of-its-kind water-based public transport system for the metropolis.

Valued at ₹4.4 crore, the DPR consultancy contract was won through a competitive bidding process, marking KMRL’s growing reputation as a national leader in sustainable urban mobility consultancy.

Modelled on the Kochi Water Metro

The proposed Mumbai Water Metro will be modelled on the successful Kochi Water Metro, which was launched in 2023 as India’s first integrated water-based metro system. Kochi's experience in implementing advanced water transport infrastructure and operating electric-hybrid ferries positioned KMRL as a natural fit to lead the DPR preparation.

KMRL’s consultancy wing, which earlier conducted the feasibility study for the Mumbai Water Metro, will now take forward the project by preparing the full technical, financial, and operational blueprint required for implementation.

Project Scope: 250 km, 29 Terminals, 10 Routes

The Mumbai Water Metro is expected to span an ambitious 250-kilometre waterway network, with 29 passenger terminals and 10 operational routes, connecting Vaitarna, Vasai, Manori, Thane, Panvel, and Karanja across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

This multi-node network aims to:

• Decongest Mumbai’s road and rail corridors

• Offer fast, scenic, and sustainable commuting

• Enhance regional connectivity across the coastlines and riverbanks

• Promote multi-modal integration with suburban rail, metro, and bus networks

A National Milestone in Water-Based Transit

Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, praised the development as a paradigm shift in Indian urban transport:

“The Kochi Water Metro model has now become a national blueprint. KMRL’s DPR for Mumbai’s Water Metro is a bold step toward coastal sustainability, low-emission transport, and integrated multimodal transit for megacities.”

What’s Next?

The DPR will include:

• Route alignment and terminal planning

• Vessel type selection and electrification strategy

• Fare models and ridership estimates

• Environmental and coastal impact assessments

• Integration plans with Mumbai Metro, railways, BEST buses, and MTHL

Once submitted, the DPR will be reviewed by the Maharashtra Urban Development Department, followed by approvals from state and central authorities, and potential funding tie-ups with agencies like the World Bank, KfW, or ADB, similar to Kochi’s financing model.

Kochi’s Legacy Expands

KMRL’s Water Metro in Kochi already operates a 15-route, 78-km network with 23 terminals and 78 electric hybrid boats, backed by funding from the German development bank KfW. Its success has been widely recognized for reducing commute times, lowering carbon footprints, and serving under-connected island communities.

With this DPR assignment, KMRL evolves from operator to national consultant, contributing to India’s coastal smart city blueprint and scaling low-carbon transport systems.

The award of the DPR contract to KMRL for the Mumbai Water Metro marks a crucial turning point in India’s push for green, integrated, and water-based public transport. If realized, the Mumbai Water Metro could become one of the largest water transit systems in Asia, revolutionizing the way Mumbai travels and setting a new benchmark in sustainable urban mobility.