he existing public transport network along the Kochi metro corridor will be re-engineered by early 2017 to have a new transportation architecture in place, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) Elias George has said.
‘Creative destruction’
This is crucial since 25 per cent of the bus routes in Greater Kochi area will become unviable once the metro rail is commissioned in November. “For this, some creative destruction will have to be done. This includes rerouting buses away from the metro corridor,” he said.
New Delhi-based Urban Mass Transport Company (UMTC) is in the final lap of a study on rerouting buses, especially in the Aluva-Kochi city route. The NH Bypass, Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, Stadium Link Road and Thoppumpady-Kundannoor bridge stretch are among the prominent corridors where public transport fall short of demand.
A few more intensive rounds of discussions will be held with owners of 650-odd private buses that have city permit to apprise them of the need and the potential of rerouting.
Similarly, existing bus stops will be shifted to the vicinity of metro stations to enable seamless integration between the two modes of public transport, Mr. George said. He added that the KMRL would also improve roads and footpaths in the vicinity of metro stations located approximately a kilometre from one another. “Junctions in the route will be redesigned based on suggestions by the UMTC. Thus, a kilometre of road around Aluva metro station – the gateway to the metro system, will be redesigned as a joint initiative of the KMRL and Federal Bank. Talks are also under way with the Cochin Shipyard Limited to spruce up similar stretches in the city.” The metro agency might also take up work to rebuild footpaths and drains on either side of metro corridor.
Feeder buses
The KMRL is awaiting the State government’s approval to accord the status of the State Road Transport Undertaking for the fleet of 150 electric feeder buses that it intends to operate from metro rail stations to places in a 10-km radius.
The feeder buses would be identifiable by their discernable colour. Another 150 feeder services are expected to be sourced from private buses and the Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation’s (KURTC) fleet of low-floor buses. Based on the inputs from the UMTC, the KMRL has so far identified 40 routes through which feeder services can be operated.
The Urban Mass Transport Company is in the final stage of a study on rerouting buses in the city.
