"Kochi Water Metro bags top honors at Sustainable Transport Awards 2026."

Though Kochi did not clinch the top honour at the Sustainable Transport Awards (STA) 2026, its pioneering Water Metro has been recognised as a global benchmark, earning an “Honourable Mention” from the New York–based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

The STA 2026 award was won by Salvador, Brazil, for its large-scale expansion of electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, while Santiago, Chile, was also recognised for building Latin America’s largest electric bus fleet. ITDP said the three cities collectively demonstrated how ambitious transport investments can reduce emissions, expand access and enhance urban quality of life.

Kochi was singled out for innovation rather than scale, with ITDP highlighting the Water Metro’s success in reclaiming waterways as a daily public transport corridor—an approach that remains rare globally. The system connects the city’s 10 inhabited islands using a fleet of 78 electric-hybrid boats.

According to ITDP, the Water Metro has reduced commute times from nearly an hour by road to about 20 minutes by water, at roughly half the cost, while saving an estimated 184 grams of carbon dioxide per passenger-kilometre. The recognition underscores Kochi’s emergence as a model for sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions.