Mumbai: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has taken a major step toward expanding its national presence by submitting a detailed feasibility study to implement a water metro system across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), based on the proven model of the Kochi Water Metro.
The report, prepared in record time by KMRL’s consultancy division, was formally submitted to Maharashtra Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitish Rane.
It outlines a proposed 250 kilometre waterway network connecting key creeks including Vaitarna, Vasai, Manori, Thane, Panvel and Karanja.
KMRL submits Feasibility Study for Water Metro Project in Mumbai.
A significant leap in expanding its national footprint by submitting a comprehensive feasibility study report for implementing a WM system in Mumbai, covering the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region#kochiwatermetro pic.twitter.com/g5sytHYfSJ— Kochi Metro Rail (@MetroRailKochi) June 17, 2025
The system envisions 29 terminals operating across 10 routes, offering a new dimension to urban transport in one of India’s most congested metropolitan areas.
Minister Rane praised the timely and comprehensive nature of the proposal and directed relevant departments to initiate the next phase, which involves the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR).
The high-level meeting to review the study was attended by senior KMRL officials led by Chief General Manager Shaji P. Janardhanan, along with officials from the Maharashtra Maritime Board, including CEO M. Pradeep Prabhakar and Chief of Ports Captain Praveen Khare.
This assignment marks a milestone for KMRL, which won the consulting bid through a competitive process, its first such project outside Kerala.
The consultancy division has emerged as a key arm within KMRL, aiming to replicate the success of the Kochi Water Metro and offer sustainable transport solutions to other urban centres in India.
The move also aligns with a broader initiative by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which has tasked KMRL with conducting feasibility studies for water metro systems in 21 cities across 11 states and two Union Territories.
Industry observers note that if KMRL is further engaged in DPR development and implementation, it could position itself as a leading force in global sustainable water transport, similar to how Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) became a benchmark for metro rail systems in the country.
