Kochi Water Metro wins recognition at Sustainable Transport Awards 2026
Though Kochi missed the top honour at the Sustainable Transport Awards (STA) 2026, its pioneering Water Metro has emerged as a global benchmark, earning an ‘Honorable Mention’ from the New York–based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
The STA 2026 title went to Salvador, Brazil, for its large-scale electric Bus Rapid Transit expansion, while Santiago, Chile, was also recognised for building Latin America’s largest electric bus fleet. Together, the three cities were cited for demonstrating how ambitious transport investments can cut emissions, expand access and improve urban life.
Kochi stood out for innovation rather than scale, with ITDP highlighting the Water Metro’s success in reclaiming waterways as a daily public transport corridor—still a rarity worldwide. Serving the city’s ten inhabited islands with 78 electric-hybrid boats, the system has cut commute times from nearly an hour by road to about 20 minutes by water, at roughly half the cost, while saving an estimated 184 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre.
Since its launch in 2023, the Water Metro has carried around 6 million passengers, averaging 6,000 daily riders, and has become a global case study in integrated, low-emission water transport.
Loknath Behera, Managing Director, KMRL said the recognition has become a catalyst for the next phase of innovation. “Water Metro is already a strong and sustainable system, but losing to Salvador has pushed us to think one step ahead. If Kochi is to emerge as a global leader in water transport, the future lies in hydrogen-powered boats supported by solar energy. Hydrogen boats are now a reality in India, and while costs are currently high, this transition is inevitable. This is not a setback—it is a trigger for technological upgradation,” he said.
International recognition has sharply increased global interest in the Kochi model, with several countries exploring the possibility of adopting Water Metro–like systems. “Just yesterday, we received an enquiry from Fiji. Kochi Water Metro is increasingly being seen as a template for sustainable mobility in water-rich cities,” he said.
Water Metro has received more than 10 national and international awards, including Best Passenger Electric Boat Gussies Award, UN Habitat Award, Hamberg UITP Summit Award, the Energy Leadership Award, Global Maritime Award, Ship Tech International Award, and Urban Infra Award.
The Sustainable Transport Award 2026 award will be formally presented to Salvador’s Municipal Secretariat for Mobility (SEMOB) in a live global broadcast on February 11, after which Kochi, Salvador, and Santiago will participate in ITDP’s international STA Series programming throughout the year.
Published on January 16, 2026
