Innovative floating pontoons arrive at Water Metro jetties
The Hindu
They enable convenient and safe boarding and de-boarding, irrespective of high or low tide
Even as the first Water Metro ferry, which is undergoing basin trials at the Cochin Shipyard, is getting ready trials, prior to commencing service on the Vyttila-Kakkanad route, floating pontoons have arrived at the terminals on either end. A first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the ₹747-crore Water Metro will have concrete floating pontoons at all boat jetties. They enable convenient and safe boarding and de-boarding, irrespective of high or low tide, said a press release from Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). Aluminium gangways will connect each Water Metro jetty to the pontoons, for ‘easy transition’. Pontoon systems are widely used in western countries, but this will be the first-of-its-kind in India to be implemented in a public water transport system. The pontoons for the Water Metro are designed and manufactured by Marinetek, Finland (and assembled at Cherthala). A total of 64 such berths will be readied at the 38 Water Metro jetties.
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