Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram and inaugurated the Kochi Water Metro and various projects. After that, PM Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express in Thiruvananthapuram. PM Modi also interacted with the children in the Vande Bharat train at the Central Railway Station. On the occasion, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor were also present with him.
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After inaugurating the development projects, PM Modi addressed the function and said that Kerala is a state of very conscious, intelligent and educated people. The strength, humility, hard work of the people here makes them a unique identity. All of you are well aware of the conditions of the country and abroad. Our government emphasizes on cooperative federalism, considering the development of states as the formula for the development of the country. If Kerala develops, India will develop faster. We are working with this service spirit
PM Modi flagged off India’s first water metro in Kerala’s Kochi which will connect 10 islands around the city in Malabar coast through battery-operated electric hybrid boats. The project was set up at a cost of Rs 1,136.83 crore and is funded by the Kerala government and German funding agency KfW. Kochi Water Metro will have 78 electric boats and 38 terminals cost 1,136.83 crores, funded by GoK & KfW.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the metro will bring a major revolution in water transportation and also boost state’s tourism. Funded by the Kerala government and German firm KfW, the boats are manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
CM Vijayan added, ” with the water metro, passengers can reach Vypin terminal from High Court terminal within 20 minutes and from Kakkanad from Vypin within 25 minutes without being stuck in traffic.”
Managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd said Kochi is surrounded by many islands and out of them 10 islands are very important and thickly populated. They will be connected and the first phase service will begin from High Court-Vypin terminal to Vyttila-Kakkanad terminal. The tickets can be booked online and they can also use ‘Kochi 1’ card to travel in Kochi water metro. Ticket prices have been kept a minimum of ₹20 and a maximum of ₹40. Regular passengers can also avail weekly or monthly passes starting from ₹180 to ₹1,500. The project has identified 15 routes connecting islands spanning 78 km.
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