Kochi Water Metro ferries berthed at the High Court terminal. As it steps into its third year, the Water Metro is set to expand its operations both within Kerala and across India.

The fleet of 19 air conditioned hybrid-electric Water Metro ferries that are operating in Kochi transported a total of 4 million commuters across 10 terminals in the Greater Kochi area, during the past two years.

They were from among the twenty-three 100-passenger ferries for which Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) had placed an order with Cochin Shipyard. This first-of-its-kind water transport system in India that aims to introduce 78 ferries in the Greater Kochi area in a phased manner is being implemented by the Kerala government. It was officially launched on April 25, 2023.

As it steps into its third year, the Water Metro is set to expand its operations both within Kerala and across India. The project had won the Gussies Electric Boat Award-2022 in the commercial ferry category and the Skoch Award for excellence in offering services to the public in the transport sector. The Union government had plans to probe the feasibility of replicating the model in 21 locations across the country, said a KMRL release.

The agency’s MD, Loknath Behera, hoped that the system of water transport would bring in sustainability and affordability in public transport and help decongest roads.

A feasibility study to implement the Water Metro project in Mumbai has been submitted to the Maharashtra government by KMRL. The agency was also asked to conduct feasibility studies to implement the Water Metro system in 21 urban centers across 11 States and two Union Territories, it said.

Notwithstanding the heartbreak of the ISL playoffs, the Highlanders fans got rights for the largest cheer in the pre-quarterfinals of Kalinga Super Cup with their star striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie scoring his first-ever hat-trick for the club as North East United FC routed Mohammedan Sporting 6-0 on a hot and humid afternoon in Bhubaneswar.
The treble from Ajaraie (18′, 57′, 90+3′), coupled with the opener from Jithin MS (3′) and strikes from Nestor Albiach (42′) and Guillermo Fernandez (66′) ensured that Juan Pedro Benali’s men romped to the quarterfinals with a show of confidence at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.
It was a disappointing end to Mohammedan’s campaign that got very little time for preparation with Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s wards reaching the Odisha capital just three days back.
Later in the evening, a strong Jamshedpur FC contingent set up a quarterfinal with Benali’s NEUFC by beating Hyderabad FC 2-0 in the second match of the day.
Despite boasting a squad with all six foreigners, Khalid Jamil’s men faced a tough contest from the all-Indian Hyderabad side that stayed at the back to curb all of Jamshedpur’s efforts for a breakthrough.
The deadlock was broken just before the break when Ashutosh Mehta was fouled inside the box by Manoj Mohammed and Javier Siverio made no mistake in sending goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh the other way to convert from the spot.
It was a delightful move started by Siverio outside the box that led to a pass to Jordan Murray, who sent a low cross to an onrushing Stephen Eze who guided it into the goal. Replays, however, showed that the Nigerian was offside.
While NEUFC’s first and third goals were results of serious defensive lapses on the part of their rivals with an unmarked Jithin tapping in an Albiach cross inside the box in the third minute and the Spaniard turning scorer after another defensive error just before half-time, their second was a testament to the skill of Moroccan Ajaraie in front of goal.
The change of ends did not change the course of the game as the ISL Golden Boot winner powered in a rebound near goalmouth in the 57th minute and played provider to Spaniard Fernanadez nine minutes later.
Ajaraie completed his hat-trick from the spot after he was brought down inside the box in injury time.

Hyderabad: Stating that the damage to the raft and piers of block 7 of the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) are irreversible, National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has recommended that the Telangana govt should not use the (block 7) structures for the operation of gates again. They may be safely disposed of or stabilised, in situ, based on the experience of the executing agency.
NSDA also said while carrying out the works, the adjacent blocks should not be damaged in any manner.
On Annaram and Sundilla, which have also developed structural issues, the NDSA said the two barrages have also experienced distress conditions and damages “rendering them unserviceable” and were also vulnerable. “All three barrages need to be thoroughly and entirely investigated from all angles,” NDSA added.
The NDSA committee, led by J Chandrashekhar Iyer and member secretary Amitabh Meena, along with other members, investigated sinking of some piers of block 7 of the Medigadda barrage and problems in the Annaram and Sundilla barrages. They submitted a 365-page report to the Union ministry of jal shakti in Dec last, which has been sent to the Telangana govt for further action.
Three piers were completely damaged, while some others were partially affected in block 7 of Medigadda in Oct 2023. The NDSA submitted its preliminary report last year, and now the final report was submitted. The Justice PC Ghose’s one-man commission was also waiting for the report.
Regarding the reasons for the sinking of piers in Medigadda and other barrages, NDSA, in its report, stated that the sand piping phenomenon, cavity formation underneath the raft, construction defects, design deficiencies, structural distress, and other downstream damages experienced by block 7 rendered it unserviceable. These issues could manifest in other blocks of the Medigadda barrage as well. The committee noted that the geophysical investigation report reveals that cavities underneath the raft had formed not only in block 7 but also in other blocks.
“The damages to block 7 have resulted in the barrage becoming non-functional for diverting water. Even the bridge that spanned over it has become non-functional. Since this block is not the first or last block of the barrage, the movement of the gantry crane over the whole barrage width has also been stopped. Due to such sinking, not only has block 7 suffered irreversible damages, but its safe removal would also pose challenges as it may cause damage to adjacent blocks,” the report stated.
The committee mentioned that the flexible protection works of the barrage, such as CC blocks and the launching apron in the downstream, have either settled, been damaged, dislodged, or washed far away at many locations along the length of the barrage.
“The rehabilitation design should comprehensively assess the health and safety of the entire Medigadda barrage and the two other barrages. The design should consider and address all the deficiencies, whether they be geotechnical, hydrological, hydraulic, or structural aspects. Geotechnical investigations should be carried out as required for the entire barrage,” the report stated.
Regarding the two other barrages, NDSA said, “The two upstream barrages, Annaram and Sundilla, which have similar deficiencies in design and construction, have also experienced distress conditions and damages rendering them unserviceable, and are also vulnerable. All three barrages need to be thoroughly and entirely investigated from all angles,” NDSA said.