The Karnataka government has greenlit the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), poised to transform coastal transport and set a new benchmark for eco-conscious infrastructure.
Approved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru during a high-level meeting of the state’s water transport board, the project is expected to become a landmark initiative for both environmental stewardship and smart city development in the coastal belt. The MWMP will span a 30-kilometre stretch across the Gurupura and Netravathi rivers, connecting 17 strategic locations, including Kulur Bridge, Tannir Bhavi, Sultan Battery, Hoige Bazaar, Ullal, and the iconic Someshwar temple. By directly linking high-density urban and peri-urban nodes through water-based corridors, the water metro is envisioned as an antidote to Mangaluru’s growing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. Inspired by the success of the Kochi Water Metro, this coastal twin project not only aims to provide faster, cleaner public transit but also seeks to inject new energy into local tourism. According to the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB), which has been tasked with leading preliminary assessments, the system will significantly reduce the city’s reliance on fossil fuel-based transport.
Modern catamarans—either electric-powered or low-emission diesel variants—will form the core of the fleet. The choice of catamarans underscores the project’s commitment to energy efficiency and riverine navigation safety. These vessels are expected to minimise wake damage to riverbanks while ensuring quieter, smoother rides—an advantage particularly relevant to ecologically sensitive estuarine environments. Urban planners and environmental experts see MWMP as a timely intervention. With cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai grappling with high vehicular density, Mangaluru’s pivot to aquatic mobility could become a scalable blueprint for India’s riverine cities. The project’s integration of tourism with daily commutes—offering residents and visitors alike scenic, congestion-free routes—positions it uniquely at the crossroads of ecological responsibility and economic opportunity.
From a policy standpoint, the project also aligns with Karnataka’s broader ambition of creating zero-carbon, people-centric cities. By leveraging natural waterways for public mobility, the state aims to reduce urban heat islands, lower particulate emissions, and revitalise underutilised aquatic infrastructure. As preliminary surveys begin and route alignment studies take shape, civic leaders and community groups are calling for inclusive planning to ensure that the metro serves all demographics, including fisherfolk and low-income commuters. If executed with sensitivity to local livelihoods and river ecosystems, MWMP could well become a national model for sustainable transport innovation.
In a city increasingly defined by its evolving infrastructure and demographic shifts, Mangaluru’s water metro is not just a transport project—it’s a declaration of intent. A signal that the future of urban India could, quite literally, be afloat.
Also Read:Â https://urbanacres.in/kolkata-metro-suspends-green-line-for-three-days/
