Digital Goa, May 8 – Goa govt will approach the PMO and the Union Water Transport Minister Sarbanand Sonawala in Delhi within a week with a proposal for a Kochi-style water metro project, informed River Navigation Department Minister Subhash Phal Dessai. He was speaking after meeting CM Pramod Sawant with the Kochi Metro team. Following a year-long feasibility study, the Kochi team has identified eight feasible routes covering around 111 km across Goa including Panaji–Narve, Betim–Old Goa, Old Goa–Sarmanas, Vasco–Cortalim, Cortalim–Durbhat, Old Goa–Cumbarjua, Panaji–Dona Paula–Vasco and Panaji–Chapora. The ninth route including a sea-route stretch from Chapora to Keri and Tiracol is also under consideration. The state plans to procure around 87 vessels under the project. Phal Dessai said around 43,000 to 45,000 commuters currently use water transport in Goa adding that the number could cross one lakh once the water metro is introduced. He said that the project, which is proposed to be undertaken with Central assistance would serve both as a sustainable public transport system and a tourism attraction.
