Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 circulated for inter-ministerial consultations
Water Metro services planned for rollout in 18 cities nationwide
Phase I cities: Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj
Phase II cities: Tezpur and Dibrugarh in Assam
System utilizes existing waterways with minimal civil infrastructure
Features electric and hybrid ferries for reduced operational costs
Projects prioritized in regions with suitable geographic conditions including continuous or semi-continuous waterways
Cities with populations exceeding one million with demonstrated transport demand will be considered
Multiple funding models under consideration: joint Centre-State funding, fully State-funded projects, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and fully Centre-funded initiatives
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) entrusted Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) with conducting feasibility studies for 18 cities on 25 February 2025
Feasibility studies cover assessment of existing public transport systems, travel demand estimation, financial and economic viability (FIRR and EIRR), and multimodal integration
Site visits completed for all 18 locations
Draft feasibility reports submitted for 17 cities (Lakshadweep pending)
Feasibility reports for Srinagar, Patna, Guwahati, Varanasi, and Ayodhya have been accepted
System aims to reduce congestion in cities while offering comfortable, scenic commuting experience
Adopts ecosystem approach with standardisation in vessel design, terminals, charging infrastructure, and safety protocols
Promotes indigenisation in vessel construction and seamless multimodal integration with existing transport networks
