The managing directors of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) must ideally not be part of Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority (UMTA) mooted for three main cities of Kerala, since there was the possibility of conflict of interest, as has been mentioned in Clause 4 of Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill 2018, experts in public transport and related fields said at a public hearing of the select committee on Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill 2018 that was held here on Saturday.
They also expressed concern over UMTA having to seek the State government’s approval for every policy and financial decision “since this would make it yet another government agency”. They further sought imposing of congestion fee on private vehicles entering the city hub, since four cars occupy space needed for approximately 50 people who commute by bus.
Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran chaired the hearing in which Transport Commissioner K. Padmakumar, Principal Secretary (Transport) K.R. Jyotilal and a host of MLAs took part.
Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) chairman D. Dhanuraj demanded that the State government must clarify whether the UMTA would be a regulatory body or one which facilitates or provides and integrates different modes of public transport.
Representatives of ‘green mobility’, civic agencies and existing modes of public commuting must be included in the Authority, he said.
Demand for subsidy
Former Mayor K.J. Sohan said public transport must be subsidised, if need be, by increasing tax or fee on private vehicles. The railway network, which has an economical fare structure, must be optimally utilised. Affordable and reliable public transport modes must be made available for people living in the suburbs and in areas not linked by public transport, so that they too contribute to and gain from each city’s development, he added.
It was shocking that private buses from Goshree islands were not allowed entry into the city, 15 years since the three bridges were built between the islands and mainland Ernakulam, said Majnu Komath, chairman of Goshree Action Council and former member of State Advisory Committee on Transport.
Private bus operators demanded a dedicated bus lane so that people who relied on public transport could reach their destinations fast.
Others who spoke demanded construction of long-pending bridges, removal of encroachers, widening of roads and junctions, construction of localised ring roads.
