MARGAO: The Union Shipping Ministry is looking to replicate the success of the Kochi Water Metro in Goa, along with other cities. This observation was made following a recent review meeting of the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) held in New Delhi
The virtual meeting, chaired by MoPSW Secretary T K Ramachandran, gathered senior officials from approximately 30 States and Union Territories to discuss the comprehensive development of maritime and waterways transport across India.
Ramachandran suggested that the Kochi Water Metro model could be adopted in states like Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Guwahati. The Kochi Water Metro, which completed one year of operations on April 25, 2024, has significantly transformed the water transport sector in Kerala.
He also emphasised the importance of the Sagarmala Programme and the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in enhancing India’s maritime heritage and infrastructure.
State Maritime and Waterways Transport Corporations (SMWTCs) have been established in 13 States, including Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Lakshadweep. There are plans to establish SMWTCs in all 30 coastal and waterways states and Union Territories of India.