After Kochi in Kerala, Surat in Gujarat is poised to become India’s second city with water metro services. Using water from the Tapi River, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has unveiled plans for a 33-kilometre water metro system as an addition to the city’s transport options. A team of technical experts from Surat is set to visit Kochi shortly for a study tour.
The water metro project aims to enhance connectivity, ease traffic congestion, and promote eco-friendly transport in response to Surat’s growing population, which currently stands at around 7 million. The SMC’s forthcoming barrage project will ensure water availability along the Tapi from Valak to Rundh, covering a distance of 33 kilometres. Additionally, the Tapi Riverfront Project, including an embankment wall along both riverbanks, is currently underway.
Seeing the potential of water metro services, the SMC approached the Kochi Municipal Corporation, which launched India’s first water metro in December 2021.
Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal stated, “The Kochi Water Metro’s teams will come to Surat to provide guidance, and we also have support from the French Development Agency on developing cost-effective water metro services.”
She added that the water metro ferry services would be well-integrated with city buses and metro rail, ensuring seamless travel. “Stations will be built on both sides of the riverbank for accessibility,” she said.
SMC Udhna Zonal Chief and executive engineer, D C Bhagwakar, commented, “We have drafted a plan, and after our team’s visit to Kochi, we’ll make adjustments as necessary. The water-carrying capacity of the Tapi River will also be increased, and we expect the public will fully benefit from this new transport option once it is operational.”
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