Sat Jan 18 15:58:40 UTC 2025: ## Kochi Water Metro Boosts Ferry Frequency Amidst Rising Demand
**KOCHI, January 18, 2025** – The Kochi Water Metro has significantly increased the frequency of its ferry services on the popular Vyttila-Kakkanad route, responding to a surge in commuter demand. With Cochin Shipyard Limited delivering 18 of the 23 electric-hybrid ferries to Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML), including two this week, peak-hour services now run every 20 minutes, up from previous schedules.
The increase follows months of heavy reliance on the water transport option due to extensive road closures and traffic congestion caused by the Kochi metro’s Kakkanad extension. The improved service operates from 7:35 AM to 7:00 PM (Vyttila to Kakkanad) and 8:05 AM to 7:30 PM (Kakkanad to Vyttila), with varying frequencies throughout the day.
KWML COO Sajan John attributed the service upgrade to the new ferry deliveries and the upcoming launch of three electric feeder buses, which will provide first- and last-mile connectivity from the Kakkanad terminal to Infopark and the Collectorate for ₹20. The possibility of electric auto-rickshaws is also under consideration.
Further improvements include increased frequency on the High Court-Fort Kochi route during peak periods (now every 10 minutes as needed) and the planned launch of services on the High Court-Mattancherry route in March. Two additional ferries are expected from CSL by then. A total of five ferries will eventually serve this route.
Looking ahead, KWML is preparing to procure another 15 100-seat ferries to expand services across Greater Kochi. The tender process is underway, pending approval from the German lending agency KfW. The expansion aims to provide greater capacity on existing popular routes and extend services to more islands.
First Piper 