CMRL begins feasibility study for 70km ‘Water Metro’

Chennai: Imagine heading to work without worrying about packed buses, red lights or congested roads. Instead, taking a swanky, air-conditioned boat, along Buckingham Canal.

In a few years, that may become a reality, with CMRL planning a 70km water metro between Ennore and Mahabalipuram. The agency has already started studying its feasibility and links with metro rail, MRTS, MTC and suburban trains.

A tender has been floated to prepare a detailed feasibility report-cum-detailed project report. If found feasible, it could become a north-south public transport corridor and the second water metro network in India after Kochi.

The corridor could link at least 18 key areas, including Ennore, Tondiarpet, Basin Bridge, Chepauk, Foreshore Estate, Thiruvanmiyur, Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Navalur, Muttukadu, Kovalam and Mahabalipuram, said a metro rail official. The proposed system would have facilities similar to the city’s metro network, including AC boats, waiting halls, AFC gates and security.

“We will prepare the feasibility report and DPR in eight months. Commuters will have the same experience as they do on the metro network,” the official said. “We will link the water metro with Phase I and Phase II corridors and MRTS at several locations, including Thiruvanmiyur and Kotturpuram with exclusive walkways.” The city’s metro rail network is linked with MTC bus, suburban and MRTS train services.

The feasibility study will assess traffic demand, ridership, flood conditions, navigation, passenger terminals, associated infrastructure and financial and commercial viability. Then, the DPR will examine engineering design, geotechnical conditions, costs, number and location of stations and the type of boats.

“Canal restoration will be a major component of the DPR and will be included in the final cost estimate. Plugging sewage inflows and restoration will be executed by local bodies, while CMRL will execute the rest of the project,” the official said. Sources said several CMRL officials have experience working on Kochi Water Metro.

The 448km Buckingham Canal extends from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Marakkanam, comprising the 316km North Buckingham Canal and 110km South Buckingham Canal. The south canal runs through Chennai and connects with Cooum and Adyar rivers.

The proposal comes days after finance minister Marie Wilson announced in the 2026-27 Budget a push to restore Cooum and Adyar rivers and eventually enable boating on them.

Chennai has tried to revive water transport before. A 1967 Cooum improvement scheme included boat jetties, while a 1973 pleasure boat service operated between Napier Bridge and Chetpet. In 2025, Cmtalso planned a 53km water metro between Napier Bridge and Kovalam.

The Centre’s 2008 National Waterway-4 plan proposed dredging a 50km Muttukadu-Edaiyur stretch and making other sections navigable, but the plan stalled.

Urban planner K P Subramanian, former Anna University professor, said water metro should complement, rather than replace, existing public transport. “Water transport is sustainable as it is the cheapest mode of transport in terms of capital, maintenance and operational costs. It can also carry cargo. Unlike rivers, the Buckingham Canal is a perennial water body. Accessibility may be a serious limitation, as it is not an all-pervasive mode of transport. But none of this can happen unless the canal is cleaned, sewage inflows are plugged, it is desilted, encroachments are removed and the canal is widened,” he said.