Report submitted to Centre and State; DPR likely in 3-4 months
PANAJI
Goa has moved a step closer to launching a Kochi-style Water Metro system, with the feasibility study for the ambitious inland and coastal transport project now completed and submitted to both the Centre and the State government.
RND Director Vikramsingh Raje Bhosle said Goa had strong potential to emerge as the country’s next successful Water Metro project after Kochi, adding that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) proposal was expected to be ready within the next 3-4 months.
“The feasibility study for the project in Goa has been completed and submitted to both the Central and Goa governments. Goa has strong potential for a successful Water Metro project after Kochi. The DPR proposal has been submitted and is expected to be ready within the next three to four months,” Bhosle said.
The development comes weeks after Goa government officials travelled to New Delhi to seek Central support for a transport network modelled on the Kochi Water Metro.
The study, conducted over the past year by the Kochi Metro team, mapped eight proposed routes spanning around 111 kilometres across the State. These include Panaji-Narve, Betim-Old Goa, Old Goa-Sarmanas, Vasco-Cortalim, Cortalim-Durbhat, Old Goa-Cumbarjua, Panaji-Dona Paula-Vasco and Panaji-Chapora.
Bhosle said the feasibility study has found Goa to be the second most suitable State after Kerala’s Kochi for the introduction of a water metro system.
He added that an agency will be finalised for the preparation of the DPR, with the Centre set to provide 100 per cent funding for the project.
The State is also examining a longer sea-link corridor connecting Chapora with Keri and Tiracol as part of the broader expansion plan.
Officials said the proposed network would require nearly 87 vessels to operate across the identified routes. The project is expected to be developed with financial assistance from the Centre.
The State has projected that the project will serve as both a major public transport intervention and a tourism-oriented infrastructure project.
