India's first "Water Metro" services are set to begin in Kochi, Kerala today. The Water Metro project will be integrating Kochi's water transport system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a state visit to Kerala, inaugurated the project.

Meanwhile, during the visit the prime minister flagged off Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express train from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway.

A total of 10 islands will around the port city will be connected and the first phase service will begin from High Court-Vypin terminal to Vyttila-Kakkanad terminal.

Tickets can be booked online and they can also use ‘Kochi 1’ card to travel in Kochi water metro. The tickets are prices at a minimum of ₹20 and a maximum of ₹40. Regular passengers can avail weekly or monthly passes starting from ₹180 to ₹1,500.

The cost-effective and secure journey in air-conditioned boats would help people to reach their respective destinations without being stuck in traffic snarls.

The project intends to introduce modern, energy-efficient, environment friendly and safe boats with low wake and draft characteristics at a high frequency to increase ridership.

According to Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kochi Water Metro would bring significant changes in the state's water transportation industry by boosting tourism.

The project is worth ₹747 crore which is being funded by the Kerala government and the German company KfW.