In four years time, AC water boats with wi-fi will connect metro stations in Kochi

New Delhi: In the next four years, Kochi is likely to become India's first city, and perhaps the fifth across the globe, where commuting will be seamless with an inter-connected network of buses, waterways, and the Metro.

On Saturday, Kochi Metro, Kerala government and German funding agency KfW signed an agreement here for the implementation of a Rs 747 crore integrated water transport project for the Greater Kochi region. As per the plan, waterway transport called 'Water Metro' will work as a feeder service to Kochi Metro, and the boats to be used for this purpose will be covered, air-conditioned and have Wi-Fi facility. At present, cities like Sydney, Istanbul and Venice have such a system in place.

"The focus is to shift people from cars and other modes of private transport to public transport,"said Peter Hilliges, director of KfW in India.

Kochi Metro managing director and Kerala's additional chief secretary (transport) Elias George said,"This is perhaps the first time that any funding agency is providing 80% of the cost as soft loan."

Of the Rs 747 crore, KfW has committed to loan Rs 597 crore, while the Kerala government will put in Rs 102 crore.