Kochi’s Solar-Powered Floating Metro Inspires 18 Indian Cities to Tackle Traffic  & Pollution

17 June 2025

Kochi turned its scenic backwaters into a clean public transport corridor. In its first year, nearly 2 million people rode the water metro, averaging over 6,000 passengers daily.

The boats are powered by lithium titanate batteries. They use diesel only in rare emergencies, keeping the air and water clean.

KMRL, the team behind this project, is now building a 17 MW solar farm in Alappuzha. This will generate enough power to run the entire water metro fleet.

They are also installing rooftop solar panels on terminals, offices, and control centres. Kochi Metro already sources 55 percent of its power from solar energy.

By 2030, Kochi aims to become fully carbon neutral. The Water Metro alone will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 22,800 tonnes a year.

The boats are double-hulled, made of aluminium, and designed with sustainability in mind. They protect delicate ecosystems like Vembanad Lake while offering safe and comfortable travel.

KMRL has also added electric feeder buses that connect the boats with metro stations and city centres. This makes the system truly accessible for daily commuters.

Now, cities like Varanasi, Mumbai, Surat, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and Goa plan to set up similar water metros. In total, 18 cities are exploring this model.

But without proper last-mile connectivity, these boats may not serve real public needs. In Kochi, it works because every step of the journey has been planned together.

The Kochi Water Metro is about rethinking public transport to be greener, smarter, and kinder to the environment.

If done right, these 18 cities could reduce pollution, ease traffic, and create cleaner rivers. Kochi has shown the way. Now the rest of India must build on it.