Kochi Water Metro drops 6 terminals, adds Nettoor; Total count reduced to 33

Kochi: Six proposed terminals have been dropped from the Kochi Water Metro project due to implementation hurdles and low commuter demand, while a new terminal at Nettoor has been added. The Transport Department has issued an official order approving these modifications.

The cancelled terminals are Thevara, Mulavukad Panchayat, Cheriyamthuruth, Kothad, Amrita and Aster. Originally, administrative sanction was granted for 38 terminals across 15 routes. Excluding the 6 terminals brings the total down to 32, and adding the Nettoor terminal brings the revised total to 33 terminals.

The government cited specific reasons for dropping the six locations.

Aster: Narrow and shallow waterways, alongside a high concentration of Chinese fishing nets.

Amrita: Severe execution difficulties along the route.

Thevara: Non-availability of intended government land.

Mulavukad Panchayat: Low passenger footfall on the existing South Chittoor–Eloor route.

Kothad and Cheriyamthuruth: Navigation constraints for boats due to the proposed Chennoor–Kothad bridge construction.

Regarding the new Nettoor terminal, the recent government order notes that land has already been acquired and the terminal can be built without any additional financial liability to the state exchequer.

Meanwhile, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the CPM.
CPM Ernakulam district secretary S Satheesh termed the UDF government's decision anti-people, asserting that administrative sanction for 38 terminals was originally granted during the LDF regime.

He also dismissed the government's claim regarding land non-availability at Thevara, stating that KSRTC-owned land had already been identified for the project, and alleged that the government was attempting to mislead the public by re-announcing the Nettoor terminal out of fear of public backlash.