Loknath Behera, Managing Director, KMRL, along with Sanjay Kumar, Director (Systems) and MP Ramnavas, Director (Projects), receive the award for the Best Green Transport Initiative from Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs at the UMI Conference.
The award recognizes Kochi’s exemplary progress in sustainable mobility, powered by the joint efforts of Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Cochin International Airport Limited and Kochi Water Metro Limited under the project titled “Mega Green Energy Projects powering Kochi’s transport sector.
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, at the UMI Conference.
This recognition marks Kochi as the only city in India where all four organized transport modes – air, land, rail and water – operate successfully within a shared framework of clean energy and sustainability. The city has thus become a national model for integrated and environmentally friendly urban transport.
KMRL’s achievements in renewable energy were central to this recognition. With a total installed solar capacity of 11.33 MWp, the metro system now meets 53 percent of its total energy needs through solar energy and has set the goal of achieving complete energy neutrality by 2028. Solar power installations on the roofs of stations, depot tracks and elevated structures have enabled KMRL to reduce CO2 emissions by over 13,000 tonnes annually – the equivalent of planting more than five lakh trees. In addition, Kochi Metro’s electric buses and e-cars are revolutionizing last-mile connectivity in the city, providing clean, safe and affordable mobility to thousands of passengers every day.
Cochin International Airport, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, complements this city-wide green vision by generating 55 MWp of green power through a mix of solar and hydro projects, including the 4.5 MWp small hydro project at Arippara in Kozhikode. Together, KMRL and CIAL produce 66.33 MWp of renewable energy, reducing Kochi’s annual CO2 emissions by more than 62,000 tonnes. Kochi Water Metro – India’s first fully electric-hybrid water transportation system – completes this unique ecosystem by providing sustainable, pollution-free connectivity to 10 island communities through 76 kilometers of waterways.
The MoHUA award reinforces Kochi’s position as India’s green transport capital and a global example of how a city can combine technology, community participation and environmental stewardship. Today, Kochi is the only Indian city with a fully integrated multi-modal transportation system powered largely by renewable energy – a model that not only drives urban progress but also protects the planet for generations to come. Last year, Mohua had declared Kochi as the green city of India.
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Published on November 15, 2025
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