Kochi Water Metro: Revisiting the Economy-Ecology Paradox of Water Transportation

Title

Kochi Water Metro: Revisiting the Economy-Ecology Paradox of Water Transportation

Creator

Aiyappan, Arya; Karthikeyan, Sourav; Seettha, Fahim

Description

Kochi, a prominent port city on the southwest coast of Kerala, India, with its waterways, has shaped the geographical and socio-cultural space, aligning them with the politics of the land-water interaction. Popular conceptions of transport have been land-oriented, but with water as the centre, our understanding of day-to-day lived realities changes, demanding new vocabulary. The Kochi Water Metros advent and success are the topics under discussion. Moving from land metro to water metro signals changes in our reading of travel, ecology, energy conservation, direction, temporality, socio-cultural and economic modalities. The article is a project-based study drawing data from interviews, documents, audio-visual images and real-time information to trace and position Kochis Water Metro. With economic and environmental sustainability as the driving forces, the transportation cum tourism aspects of the Water Metro requires an intersectional reading of hydrography, oceanic materialities, and maritime practices. Reading these against the larger context of capitalism and Blue Humanities helps explore how hydrocapitalism becomes the new discourse that positions the ecology-economy paradox. Not only does the Water Metro realign travel and geospatial mapping, but it also begets new directions in maritime developments and conservation within Kochis tourism ventures. 2024 selection and editorial matter, Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh, Dr. Samjaila T. H., Ms. Preethi S., Dr. Steffi Santhana Mary S., Dr. Uma Maheswary and Dr. L. Santhosh Kumar; individual chapters, the contributors.

Source

Asia's Maritime History and Identity at Cultural Crossroads;pp.25-29

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Subject

Blue humanities; Hydrocapitalism; Kochi water metro; Sustainability; Transportation

Coverage

Aiyappan A., Christ Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, India; Karthikeyan S., Christ Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, India; Seettha F., Christ Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 978-104082042-1; 978-104082049-0;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003725152-5

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105032923720?origin=resultslist