The Kochi Water Metro project is proof of participatory democracy in action. The commissioning of more ferry terminals under the project would in turn lead to comprehensive development and better living standards, especially in islands around Kochi, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.
The terminals are located such that common people benefit the most. Tourists too will benefit from the fleet of air-conditioned, electric-hybrid ferries. Ultimately, approximately one lakh people will benefit from the project (under which the envisaged fleet of 78 electric-hybrid ferries would over time link 38 terminals in the mainland and 10 islands around Kochi), he said on Thursday evening, after inaugurating online the South Chittoor, Eloor, Cheranalloor and North Mulavukad terminals of the Water Metro, at the Eloor terminal.
Many other States are now keen to introduce Water Metro-like services, seeing the success of the ferries in Kochi. The ongoing development of national highway corridors, hill highway, and the national waterway through Kerala is proof that maximum number of people benefit from the projects, the Chief Minister said. He also decried efforts by stakeholders who invested little in infrastructure projects to partake of the credit.
