Though it missed the top honour at the Sustainable Transport Awards (STA) 2026, Kochi’s pioneering Water Metro has emerged as a global benchmark in sustainable urban mobility, earning an ‘Honourable Mention’ from the New York–based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
The STA 2026 title was awarded to Salvador, Brazil, for its large-scale electric Bus Rapid Transit expansion, while Santiago, Chile was also recognised for building Latin America’s largest electric bus fleet. ITDP cited all three cities for demonstrating how ambitious transport investments can reduce emissions, improve access and enhance urban quality of life.
Kochi stood out for innovation rather than scale, with ITDP highlighting the Water Metro’s success in reclaiming waterways as a daily public transport corridor—still a rarity globally. Connecting the city’s ten inhabited islands, the system operates 78 electric-hybrid boats, cutting commute times from nearly an hour by road to about 20 minutes by water, at roughly half the cost, while saving an estimated 184 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre.
Since its launch in 2023, the Kochi Water Metro has carried around 6 million passengers, averaging 6,000 daily riders, and has become a global case study in integrated, low-emission water transport.
Loknath Behera, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), said the recognition has become a catalyst for the next phase of innovation. “Water Metro is already a strong and sustainable system, but losing to Salvador has pushed us to think one step ahead. If Kochi is to emerge as a global leader in water transport, the future lies in hydrogen-powered boats supported by solar energy. Hydrogen boats are now a reality in India. While costs are currently high, this transition is inevitable,” he said, adding that the outcome should be seen not as a setback but as a trigger for technological upgradation.
International recognition has significantly increased global interest in the Kochi model. “Just yesterday, we received an enquiry from Fiji. Kochi Water Metro is increasingly being seen as a template for sustainable mobility in water-rich cities,” Behera noted.
The Water Metro has already won more than 10 national and international awards, including the Best Passenger Electric Boat Gussies Award, UN Habitat Award, Hamburg UITP Summit Award, Energy Leadership Award, Global Maritime Award, Ship Tech International Award, and Urban Infra Award.
The Sustainable Transport Award 2026 will be formally presented to Salvador’s Municipal Secretariat for Mobility (SEMOB) in a live global broadcast on February 11. Following the ceremony, Kochi, Salvador and Santiago will participate in ITDP’s international STA Series programming throughout the year.
