CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Kochi has become the first city with a water metro project as it has launched the first in a series of battery-powered electric boats in the city. The new project by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd envisages an integrated water transport system with 15 identified routes.

Detailed explanation-2: -With the launch of the first in a series of battery powered electric boats, Kochi has become India’s first city to have a water metro project.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has completed the works of three water Metro terminals namely Kakkanad, Vyttila, and Eloor, in the city. These terminals are ready for functioning. Other terminals across the city namely Vypeen, Bolgatty, High Court, South Chittoor, and Cheranelloor will be completed by June 2022.

Detailed explanation-4: -OCHI: Kochi Water Metro, which should have commenced its services many years ago, continues to miss the deadline for its inception. Even after revising deadlines many times, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), the nodal agency for the Water Metro project, had announced the service will be inaugurated by the end of 2022.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Kochi water metro project envisages the development of 15 identified routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 78 km with a fleet of 78 fast, electrically propelled hybrid ferries plying to 38 jetties. More than 1,00,000 islanders are expected to benefit from the water metro.