Kochi Metro bags contract to prepare DPR for Mumbai Water Metro Project

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has achieved a major milestone by securing the consultancy contract to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Mumbai’s proposed Water Metro project. This prestigious assignment, valued at ₹4.4 crore, was awarded by the Government of Maharashtra through a competitive tender process.

Modelled on the successful Kochi Water Metro, the Mumbai Water Metro project will span approximately 250 km of waterways, connecting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) through 29 terminals and 10 proposed routes. The project aims to create a reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly mode of urban transport across canals, backwaters, port waters, and coastal routes.

With this contract, KMRL joins the league of nationally recognized metro consultants, following in the footsteps of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which has long been the benchmark in metro rail consultancy and project execution across India.

“This is a challenging yet exciting responsibility for Kochi Metro. Our proven expertise in implementing India’s first water metro in Kochi will now guide us as we support Mumbai’s efforts to build a world-class water transport system,” said Loknath Behera, Managing Director, KMRL.

The upcoming DPR will build upon an earlier feasibility study conducted by KMRL’s in-house consultancy wing, which examined water-based connectivity across MMR.

KMRL’s growing consultancy division is rapidly positioning itself as a leader in sustainable urban transport solutions. The Mumbai assignment is expected to open new avenues for revenue generation and national outreach.

In fact, KMRL is already conducting feasibility studies for water metro systems in 18 cities across 11 states and 2 union territories, under the guidance of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). “We have submitted reports for Patna and Srinagar, and are nearing completion of studies for Ahmedabad and Guwahati. These will be reviewed by IWAI before further DPR work begins,” said Shaji P Janardhanan, Chief General Manager, Water Transport, KMRL.

Industry experts believe that if KMRL continues to receive DPR assignments and implementation roles across states, it could evolve into an international brand synonymous with sustainable water-based urban mobility—pioneering a scalable model inspired by the Kochi success story.