Kochi: As per reports, Mumbai has been given priority in the water metro being implemented in various places across the country, based on the Kerala model. Efforts are currently underway to implement the water metro in 19 locations, including Mumbai. The Maharashtra government has approved the feasibility study conducted by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) for Mumbai and submitted the report. Maharashtra is in the tender process to identify an agency to prepare the detailed project design. The project has made more progress here than in other states.

The first water metro in the country is in Kochi. On this basis, the Central Government approached KMRL to implement the project in other cities across India. KMRL is also participating in the tender to identify the agency responsible for preparing the project design in Maharashtra.

It is estimated that KMRL will secure this contract based on its successful implementation of the project in Kochi. If KMRL is awarded the contract to prepare the final report and implement the project in other parts of the country, it will be beneficial.

Currently, the KMRL team's study is in the final stage in 10 locations. These include Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Srinagar, Patna, Ahmedabad, Surat, Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh. The KMRL team visited Srinagar soon after the tension related to the Pahalgam attack subsided.

The study report in Srinagar will be submitted this month itself. It has been suggested that the feasibility study for all locations be completed by 31 December.