Buses, autos may run as metro feeder services

City buses and autorickshaws may be co-opted to augment Kochi Metro’s fleet of feeder buses.

The aim is to limit the number of feeder buses that Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) proposes to introduce in the greater-Kochi region to provide last-mile connectivity for metro commuters. New Delhi-based Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) is shortly expected to submit a report on feeder buses and suggest routes based on passenger convenience and demand, for which a survey is underway.

A proposal to operate feeder services from international airport, Thopumpady, Tripunithura and High Court to the nearest metro station is under consideration. Autorickshaws will be the preferred mode to operate feeder trips from boat terminals proposed by KMRL in islands (where boats would supplement metro’s feeder network) since most roads are very narrow.

A meeting of representatives of auto drivers’ unions would be convened here shortly to hear their views. The aim is to rope in autos and buses whose owners are willing to operate as per metro schedule. Some thought would also be given to extending usage of smart cards proposed for metro, buses and boats in autos as well.

Chief Project Coordinator of National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) V. Rajagopal, who led a study on feeder service in 1995 for the metro that was mooted back then, said that feeder buses are a must to ensure passenger patronage for the metro. “They must operate in a 10-kilometre radius of major metro stations, along roads that are two-lane or wider. A feeder bus from any point must operate to the nearest metro station at least every 10 minutes since trains will operate at a five-minute frequency along metro corridor,” he said.

Metro sources said that both the KSRTC low-floor and private buses could be included in metro’s feeder network, optimising use of existing buses.

The proposal to co-opt existing bus and auto services, to train crew members and raise the quality of service was taken to prevent further congestion of city roads by introducing too many feeder buses. Buses operated by the metro agency will have same colour coding as that of metro trains, while other buses that join the fleet too could adopt our shades, they said.

KMRL has envisaged similar feeder bus services from boat terminals in islands surrounding Kochi which will be frequented by 78 passenger ferries that are schedule begin operating along backwaters in the greater-Kochi region in the coming four years.

Aim is to limit the number of feeder buses that KMRL proposes to introduce