International Maritime Organization (IMO) director (partnerships and projects) Jose Mathiekal said the model of Kochi Water Metro should be implemented in waterways across Kerala and different parts of India, as it already proved success as a sustainable green initiative.
After conducting a journey on a Water Metro boat on the Vyttila-Kakkanad route, Mathiekal said the project can be implemented in other countries and IMO is ready to act as facilitator. “Our future lies in harnessing inland waterways. We have to reduce the traffic movement through roads by encouraging journeys through inland waterways. Such practice can also reduce emissions,” he said.
A team of IMO had visited the Kochi Water Metro months ago, as part of analysing the project. It is the first time that an official of IMO is assessing the project after its commissioning. Mathiekal said countries are aiming zero emission in maritime sector by 2050 and the Water Metro project is a significant contribution towards that goal and many countries have already expressed interest to implement the model in their waterways. “We have discussed with Kochi Metro officials the ways in which we can cooperate with the other countries to implement the project there,” he said.
He also suggested forming clusters like Kochi Water Metro in various waterbodies in other districts and interlink them as an integrated and comprehensive transportation mode which can replace the traditional transportation systems.
He also suggested that the state government or any private players can take initiative to utilize water hyacinths to generate green fuel using modern technologies.