The new Kochi Metro: Breaking records along the way
To mark the inauguration of the Kochi Metro, PM Narendra Modi will enjoy a ride on it along with Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, CM Pinarayi Vijayan and other dignitaries. He will cut the ribbon at Palarivattom station. Afterwards, there will be a public event at JLN Stadium. There are several features that make the Kochi Metro unique. Read on to know all about it.
Kochi Metro will open for the public on June 19
Commercial operations will begin June 19. Trains will start from Aluva and Palarivottam at 6am, and wrap up operations at Aluva at 10pm. On the first day, the network will have 219 trips, with a gap of 8.20 minutes between two trains.
Kochi Metro, doing its bit for the environment
Kochi Metro is doing its bit for the environment. It will be the first to extensively use solar panels (22 stations will have them), with plans to meet 25% of its requirement through solar power. It will also use compost generated from municipal waste on a large scale in its vertical gardens that will decorate some pillars in the network.
India's first 'water metro'
It is India's first multi-modal transport system: the 'water metro' feeder service will have boats transporting people on islands to and from main hubs. This will ease access to jobs, education and more on the mainland, for thousands of fishermen and farmers on the islands.
Empowering women and transgenders
Kochi Metro is the first government agency in the country to employ transgenders; 23 will be on duty on inaugural day. It will also rope in Kudumbasree - Kerala government's self-help group for women - to provide a vast array of services for passengers, including crowd management, customer relations, housekeeping and catering. It will be the largest crew of women employed by any metro.
