The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has approved to carry out a feasibility study for developing an urban water transport system in 17 cities across 12 states. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has been appointed to conduct the feasibility study. The selected cities include Ayodhya, Dhubri, Goa, Guwahati, Kollam, Kolkata, Prayagraj, Patna, Srinagar, Varanasi, Mumbai, Vasai, Mangalore (Gurupura River), Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad (Sabarmati River), Alleppey, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This initiative aims to create a safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly water metro system, leveraging India’s existing navigable waterways. The project will connect mainland areas, municipalities, panchayats, and islands, integrating with other transport modes to enhance connectivity.