Kochi wins national honour for best green transport initiative
The Kochi Metro currently operates with an installed solar capacity of 11.33 MWp, meeting 53% of its total energy requirements through solar power.
The Kochi Metro currently operates with an installed solar capacity of 11.33 MWp, meeting 53% of its total energy requirements through solar power.
The Kochi Metro currently operates with an installed solar capacity of 11.33 MWp, meeting 53% of its total energy requirements through solar power.
Kochi: Adding another milestone in sustainability, Kochi bagged the ‘City with Best Green Transport Initiative’ award. The award has been conferred by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) at the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference 2025. The recognition comes under the project titled ‘mega green energy projects powering Kochi’s transport sector,’ jointly implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) and Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML).
The national honour places Kochi on the map as the only city in India where all four organised modes of transport - air, land, rail and water - operate within a shared clean-energy ecosystem. With this, Kochi has emerged as a model for integrated and environmentally responsible mobility. In 2024 too, MoHUA had recognised Kochi as the Green City of India, underscoring its consistent commitment to sustainable urban development.
The award was received by Loknath Behera, Managing Director, KMRL, along with Sanjay Kumar, Director (Systems) and MP Ramnavas, Director (Projects) from Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The Kochi Metro currently operates with an installed solar capacity of 11.33 MWp, meeting 53% of its total energy requirements through solar power. The metro has set an ambitious target of achieving complete energy neutrality by 2028. Its solar installations across station rooftops, depot tracks and elevated structures help reduce carbon emissions by more than 13,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to planting over five lakh trees.
CIAL, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, has further strengthened Kochi’s green credentials. The airport generates 55 MWp of renewable power through a combination of solar and hydroelectric sources, including a 4.5 MWp hydroelectric project at Arippara in Kozhikode. Together, KMRL and CIAL produce 66.33 MWp of renewable energy, resulting in an annual reduction of over 62,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Kochi Water Metro, India’s first fully electric-hybrid water transport system, completes the city’s unique green mobility ecosystem. With its network covering 76 km of waterways and providing clean connectivity to 10 island communities, the Water Metro represents a pioneering model of sustainable public transport.
MoHUA’s award also acknowledges the innovative environmental initiatives implemented by Kochi’s transport operators. KMRL has adopted measures such as large-scale afforestation drives, water recycling systems that reuse up to 80% of train wash water, and in-house biodegradable waste composting. CIAL continues to integrate sustainability into every layer of its campus, from organic vegetable cultivation under solar panels to terrain-based solar farms at Payyannur, which enhance energy generation without altering natural landscapes.
Loknath Behera said the award was a testament to the collective spirit of the city. “This honour belongs to the people of Kochi. From day one, our vision has been to build a metro system that not only moves people efficiently but also protects the planet,” he said.