Government Plans Water Metro Systems in 18 Cities Under Draft National Policy
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the first phase will cover Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj, while Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam are proposed for the second phase.
The initiative aims to replicate the success of the Kochi Water Metro model and develop inland waterways as urban public transport corridors.
The draft policy proposes the use of electric and hybrid ferries and seeks to standardise vessel design, terminals, charging infrastructure and safety systems across all projects. The ministry said water metro systems are less capital-intensive as they utilise existing waterways with limited civil infrastructure requirements.
Inland Waterways Authority of India had assigned Kochi Metro Rail Ltd in February 2025 to conduct feasibility studies for the proposed projects across 18 locations.
Published on:
19 May 2026
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