07/09/2026
Sikkim Journalists Begin Six-Day Kerala Press Tour with Visits to Cochin Port and Kochi Water Metro
Kochi, September 7
A seven-member team of journalists from Sikkim, led by PIB Sikkim Assistant Director Manas Pratim Sarma, has commenced a six-day Press Tour of Kerala organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), with the first day of institutional visits focusing on Cochin Port and the pioneering Kochi Water Metro.
The Sikkim team comprises journalists Anand Oberoi, DR Dulal, Sonu Tamang, Ishwar Neopaney, Rudra Kaushik and Kunal Rai, who are participating in the tour along with seven media personnel from Shillong, taking the total number of participating journalists to 14.
The journalists commenced their journey on September 6, while the official programme of institutional visits began on September 7. The first engagement of the day was a visit to the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA), where the journalists were briefed on the functioning of one of India's major maritime gateways, its present operations and future plans for expansion, modernisation and diversification.
The media briefing was chaired by Satish Honnakkatte, Deputy Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority, and attended by Capt. Himanshu Shekhar (Traffic Manager) Capt. T. Muthu Kumar (Deputy Conservator) Col. Jassar SM (Chief Engineer) Jayalakshmi R. Kurup (Chief Medical Officer) B. Bhagyanath (FA & CAO) Joydeep Ghosh Dastidar (Secretary) and Jimmy George (Consultant, Business Development, Cochin Port Authority.)
During the interaction, the journalists were given an overview of the port's role in cargo handling, maritime trade, vessel operations, logistics and the wider economic activities connected with the port.
The officials also explained the port's plans to modernise its infrastructure and expand its role beyond conventional port operations.
A key focus of the briefing was the growing importance of cruise tourism, for which Cochin Port has already established the Sagarika Cruise Terminal at Ernakulam Wharf, and the port has identified cruise tourism as an important area for future development. Official Cochin Port documents state that the port is a preferred port of call for cruise vessels connecting South Asia with the Middle East and North Africa, with plans for a modern Mega Cruise Terminal at Ernakulam Wharf to facilitate the growing cruise sector.
The port's development plans are therefore increasingly linked with tourism, with cruise infrastructure expected to provide an additional gateway for visitors arriving in Kerala by sea. The Sagarika terminal and associated tourism facilities are part of efforts to strengthen Cochin's position as a cruise destination and integrate maritime infrastructure with the state's wider tourism ecosystem.
The journalists were also taken on a boat visit of the port, providing them with a first-hand view of its waterfront infrastructure, operational areas and maritime activities. The programme further included a visit to Ernakulam Wharf, enabling the participants to observe the facilities associated with the port's passenger and cruise operations.
The interaction provided the visiting journalists with an understanding of how a major port balances cargo and maritime operations with emerging areas such as cruise tourism, infrastructure development and future expansion.
Following the Cochin Port visit, the journalists proceeded to experience the Kochi Water Metro, a pioneering public transport system that integrates the city's extensive waterways into its urban mobility network.
The interaction was chaired by Dr. M. P. Ramnavas, Nominee Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), and the journalists were briefed on the concept, functioning and development of the Water Metro, including its role in connecting Kochi's islands and waterfront communities with the mainland through modern, environmentally friendly water-based public transport.
Kochi became India's first city to have a Water Metro project, with the system designed to function in a manner comparable to a conventional metro while using the city's waterways as its transport corridors. The project is being implemented through Kochi Metro Rail Limited and operated by Kochi Water Metro Limited.
The project envisages a network of approximately 78 kilometres, connecting 10 island communities through 15 routes and 38 jetties, with a fleet planned around modern electrically propelled boats. The system has been designed to provide safe, comfortable, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation while reducing road congestion and improving connectivity for island communities.
The Water Metro uses modern, low-wake and low-draft vessels designed specifically for the waterways of Kochi. The terminals have also been designed with accessibility in mind, including facilities intended to make the system more convenient for persons with disabilities. Passenger counting systems are used at terminals to monitor capacity and prevent overcrowding.
The journalists were informed that the project is not intended merely as an alternative mode of transportation but as an integrated urban mobility system connecting water-based communities with the city's wider transport network. The Water Metro is also expected to contribute to tourism and generate wider socio-economic benefits by improving accessibility to various islands and waterfront destinations.
The six-day Kerala Press Tour is aimed at providing participating journalists with direct exposure to major institutions, infrastructure projects, development initiatives and emerging sectors in the state. It also brings together media personnel from Sikkim and Shillong, creating an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and interaction among journalists from different parts of the Northeast.
The Sikkim journalists are scheduled to continue their tour with visits to other important institutions and development projects in Kerala over the coming days.
