Taking cue from the Kochi Metro Rail, Chennai, too, may operate Water Metro from Kovalam to Napier Bridge, covering a distance of 53 km. Additionally, the government is looking to identify 10 waterways in the State for tapping their tourism potential.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the implementation of the Water Metro.

Sources said the project was discussed in detail at a meeting held a few days ago with various departments, including the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, the WRD, and the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board.

“To build the Water Metro, the first step is to restore and desilt the Buckingham Canal between Cooum (Napier Bridge) and Kovalam. It involves setting up several sewage treatment plants along the waterbody, and install water quality monitoring and aeration system, and water management system. The restoration of the canal and implementation of the Water Metro together could cost ₹3,000-5,000 crore. The source of funding will be decided soon. The city’s landscape will undergo a sea change if this project becomes a reality,” a source in the government said.

Removing silt and debris from the canal is critical not just for operating the Water Metro, but also for mitigating flood, he said.

“Apart from urban mobility, such an initiative can serve us well from the tourism point of view. When the canal is revived, the treated water can be used for industries as well. This way it could fetch a good revenue, and may even cover the maintenance cost of the canal,” he added.

A proposal in this regard will be sent soon, and subsequently, the WRD will take up the work and may complete the DPR within a year.