Expanding Water Metro: Plans for Urban Water Transport Across India
Three years after Kochi got the Water Metro running, the Centre is now trying to stretch that idea. They want to bring water-based urban transport to eighteen more cities across the country.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal actually chaired a high-level review on this expansion. He said the government has plans to roll out these Water Metro systems in a phased way, you know, step by step.
Phase I is already mapped out. Cities like Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj are on the list for the initial introduction. Then, in Assam, they’re looking at Tezpur and Dibrugarh for Phase II.
On top of all that, they’re pushing forward with the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 . It’s been circulating for inter-ministerial talks now. It’s supposed to be the formal national framework for all this urban water transport stuff.
Sonowal talked about why this is happening. He pointed out that these systems are way less capital-intensive than building a conventional metro. They use what’s already there—the waterways—meaning less massive civil infrastructure is needed.
“With faster construction timelines, lower land requirements, and reduced operational costs,” Sonowal commented. “Especially when we use electric or hybrid ferries, this is a genuinely viable, eco-friendly alternative to the usual urban transport.” He added that these services aren’t just about moving people; they’re about cutting down congestion and giving people a smoother, more scenic commute.
The whole rollout builds on what they learned from Kochi. It’s about turning inland waterways into real, sustainable transport corridors. It’s not just for the daily commuter, mind you. It’s about boosting tourism in places that have nice navigable water.
The Ministry is setting some criteria for where these projects will go. They want to prioritize cities that have continuous or semi-continuous waterways, populations over a million, and serious transport demand, especially along tourism routes. But they might relax those rules if a project can seriously cut traffic, link up remote or water-locked areas, or help with flood resilience.
The plan involves a whole ecosystem approach. Think standardized vessel designs, terminals, pontoons, all the charging and bunkering gear. Passenger facilities, navigational aids—the works. There’s a focus on making vessels domestically built, integrating them smoothly with existing transport.
Funding is a messy bit, exploring a few models. Joint centre-state money. Fully state-funded projects. Public-private partnerships. Centre-funded. The key, they keep saying, is keeping costs optimized and operations efficient for the long haul.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India, IWAI, had already tasked Kochi Metro Rail Limited with doing the feasibility studies for these eighteen spots back in February 2025. Those studies looked at existing systems, travel needs, money, and how everything connects.
Site visits for all those proposed locations are done. Draft feasibility reports have been submitted for seventeen of them already. Srinagar, Patna, Guwahati, Varanasi, and Ayodhya? Those reports got the Green light.
Sonowal stressed that the ultimate goal isn't just moving people. It’s about creating world-class, sustainable mobility that actually enhances the identity and beauty of these cities. “Water Metro projects should enhance the beauty, reputation, and legacy of cities while delivering mobility solutions that match global standards,” he said. It sounds big. And it feels like it needs to be done right.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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