Water Metro may come under ‘FAME’

KOCHI: The state government would recommend the Centre to include the Water Metro project under FAME (faster adoption and manufacture of hybrid and electric vehicles) India scheme. Special purpose vehicle (SPV) would also be constituted to operate Water Metro, said Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) managing director A P M Mohammed Hanish.


Decisions regarding these were taken at meeting convened by chief secretary Tom Jose, which was attended by government department secretaries and KMRL officials here on Saturday. The meeting also discussed about measures to be taken prior to the commissioning of the first phase of Water Metro in December 2019.

“As many as 23 air-conditioned and Wi-Fi equipped boats having a seating capacity for 100 people each would be introduced in the first phase. Initially, the boats will run on electricity before converting it into solar power,” said Hanish.

FAME India is an initiative which aims to incentivize production and promotion of eco-friendly vehicles, including electric and hybrid ones.

The SPV will be formed under KMRL to operate boats, jetties and terminals. Besides, boat yards will be set up at

Thevara

and Kakkanad.

The meeting also discussed extending of exemptions in Kerala municipality building rules and panchayat rules and tax exemptions to Water Metro project. Secretaries of respective department have informed favourable approach in these regards, said the KMRL MD.

He said that the chief secretary has promised there would be steps on the part of the government to give viability gap funding (funding to fill the gap between profit and loss when there is tax exemption) through transport department.

“One of the problems we face in extending Water Metro to Infopark is the low clearance of Brahmapuram bridge. We have decided to demolish the existing bridge and construct a new one at a cost of Rs 30 crore,” said Hanish.

Another issue pointed out at the meeting was that whether the proposed bund construction in Kadambrayar would hinder water transportation on that route. A technical and social study would be conducted to look into the possibilities of constructing a bund at the upstream of the last boat jetty on the northern side of Brahmapuram bridge, he said.

Meanwhile, an order for the construction of boats will be floated in February.

Hanish said that kiosks would be set up in boat jetties and terminals to help traders in the locality. Roads leading to these jetties and terminals would also be widened.