The Kochi Water Metro is setting its sights on a significant financial milestone. After facing losses in previous years, the service now aims to reach break-even point in just five months. This ambitious goal hinges on a steady increase in passenger numbers.
Ridership Growth Fuels Optimism
Daily ridership figures show a promising upward trend. In 2025, the average daily ridership rose to 7,000 commuters from 6,000. Officials expect this number to hit 8,000 by the middle of this year. Achieving this target is crucial for the Water Metro's financial turnaround.
Sajan P John, the chief operating officer, shared recent performance data. "The year 2025 saw the average daily ridership rise to 7,000 from 6,000," he stated. "We further expect the same to touch 8,000, required to achieve breakeven, by the middle of this year."
Revenue collection has also seen a positive shift. With the start of the High Court-Mattancherry service, daily revenue now averages Rs 2.5 lakh. This marks a substantial improvement for the transit system.
Cutting Losses and Setting Records
The Water Metro began commercial operations on April 26, 2003, on the High Court-Vypeen route. Financial records reveal a challenging start. The service incurred a net loss of Rs 30.26 lakh in the 2023-24 financial year. However, it managed to reduce this loss to Rs 19.22 lakh in 2024-25.
An official highlighted the growing commuter patronage. "The year 2025 has seen the commuter patronage rising steadily," he noted. A record single-day ridership of 17,058 commuters was registered on December 28.
Projections from a Detailed Project Report study estimated daily ridership of 34,000 passengers upon full operation of all 15 routes. The Water Metro has already achieved half of that figure with only one-fourth of the project completed. "With the allocation of the usual government grant, we aim to achieve the breakeven in another five months," the official added.
Expanding with Tourist-Centric Services
As the network expands, the Water Metro is adapting its strategy to meet regional demand. For the upcoming High Court–Kadamakkudy route, the agency is considering specialized tourist services with higher fares.
A feasibility study provided insights into this decision. The Kadamakkudy island cluster has a modest population of 17,000. Despite this, it has emerged as a major tourism hotspot. By prioritizing tourist-centric operations over regular passenger services in this scenic sector, the Metro aims to maximize revenue while addressing the influx of visitors.
"The tourists are expected to form the majority of commuters on the route, which we now plan to launch in another three months," the official explained.
Future Plans for Alappuzha and Beyond
The Water Metro also contemplates operating dedicated tourist services to destinations like Pathiramanal and Kumarakom. This plan involves replicating the model in Alappuzha in the future.
A traffic survey conducted for implementing the project in Alappuzha revealed significant tourist activity. Pathiramanal, on certain days, records tourist footfalls of over 10,000. Current transportation facilities are grossly inadequate to handle this volume.
"So, we plan to launch tourist services there too, connecting destinations like Kumarakom, Muhamma in Alappuzha," he said.
Alappuzha is among 21 locations where the Union government has entrusted Kochi Metro Rail Ltd to conduct feasibility studies. The goal is to replicate the Water Metro model across the country, potentially transforming urban water transport in various regions.
