Kochi's festive spirit is riding a wave of unprecedented success for its unique Water Metro service. The city, buzzing with Christmas and New Year celebrations, has propelled the aquatic transit system to smash its single-day passenger record, underscoring its growing popularity as a vital and scenic transport link.
Festive Surge Breaks All Previous Records
The Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) registered a historic high of 17,058 passengers on Sunday, December 29, 2024. This remarkable figure comfortably surpassed the previous record of 15,222 commuters, set just days earlier. The surge is directly linked to the heavy influx of tourists and merrymakers participating in the city's festive events.
Sajan P John, Chief Operating Officer of KWML, revealed the scale of operations, stating, "We operated a record 216 trips on various routes on Sunday." He provided further data, noting that 15,550 passengers used the service on Saturday and 13,561 on Monday. The daily ridership has consistently crossed the 10,000 mark since December 24, with 10,052 on Christmas Eve, 13,556 on Christmas Day, and 13,745 on December 26.
High Court-Fort Kochi Route in High Demand
The most significant demand has been concentrated on the High Court-Fort Kochi section, driven largely by tourists. Fort Kochi is the epicenter of the region's famed Cochin Carnival, the biggest year-end gala, attracting revellers from across the state and beyond. Authorities are anticipating another surge in patronage on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as crowds literally flock to the area.
During this festive period, the average daily ridership for the Water Metro has jumped from its usual range of 7,000 to 10,000. Since the launch of its commercial operations on April 25, 2023, the system has served a cumulative total of 57,34,439 passengers as of this Monday.
Financial Sustainability and Metro's Parallel Success
Looking ahead, KWML is focusing on achieving operational breakeven by the latter part of 2026. A key strategy involves boosting non-fare box revenue. "Non-ticket revenue for Water Metro is meagre. We are in the process of renting out commercial spaces available at our terminals, to tap alternative revenue sources, while continuing to increase passenger revenue collection," explained the official.
The festive cheer has also positively impacted the Kochi Metro, though its December ridership remained below annual peaks. A spokesperson noted that the highest daily ridership for the month was recorded on Tuesday, with 1,24,637 commuters. They expressed optimism for a record turnout on New Year's Day. For context, the highest single-day ridership in 2024 was on October 25 with 1,46,355 passengers, while 2025's peak so far was 1,36,814 commuters on August 14.
The record-breaking numbers for the Water Metro highlight its successful integration into Kochi's urban fabric, proving to be a major asset not just for daily commuters but also as a key attraction and transport solution for the city's vibrant tourism and cultural events.
