Coastal Development Board mulls replicating Kochi water metro in Karnataka coast

Karnataka Coastal Development Board Chairman M. A. Gaffoor on Thursday, said a team from Kochi Water Metro team recently visited three coastal districts of Karnataka to conduct a feasibility study of introducing water metro and the preliminary report is expected soon.

Karnataka Coastal Development Board Chairman M. A. Gaffoor on Thursday, said a team from Kochi Water Metro team recently visited three coastal districts of Karnataka to conduct a feasibility study of introducing water metro and the preliminary report is expected soon.

He was interacting with mediapersons under the “Thingala Angala” programme and releasing the monthly magazine Sanmathi, organised by Udupi District Working Journalists Association at Udupi. He said the Board was mulling to introduce water metro in Karnataka’s coastal districts on the Kochi model.

In the next phase, a technical traffic survey would be conducted following a detailed project. Mr. Gaffoor said he was in regular touch with Deputy Commissioners of the three districts in this regard.

The Board chairman said under the UDAN scheme, approval was given for water aerodromes connecting Mangaluru-Maravanthe-Goa Coast, Mangaluru-Kochi and Mangaluru-Mysuru (Kabini backwaters). He informed that there was a plan to introduce Ro-Ro ferry services to transport trucks via river/sea routes to reduce urban traffic congestion caused by heavy vehicle traffic.

Mr. Gaffoor further said the Board was preparing a framework to coordinate the plans of various Central and State governments for the comprehensive development of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. He said that plans related to multi-modal connectivity, tourism, fisheries, industry and environment were being formulated.

He further said a plan was on the anvil to construct an alternative highway to Kanniyakumari-Panvel National Highway 66 passing through the three coastal districts. A master plan would be prepared to implement this through the National Highways Authority of India.