Kochi: KMRL And NATPAC To Conduct Study To Increase Ridership For Metro And Water Metro

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is set to sign an agreement with National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) to carry out a three-month study.

The study is aimed at identifying measures to enhance patronage in both Kochi Metro and its waterway extension, Kochi Water Metro.

The study aims to provide effective measures that can be implemented to ensure social benefits for commuters using public transport in the Greater Kochi area.

The study will focus on the travelling patterns of commuters and transit-oriented development (TOD). Additionally, the potential tourism benefits of the Water Metro project will also be evaluated.

The study's outcome is expected to create a win-win situation for commuters and public transport modes, thus promoting sustainable and efficient urban mobility.

Water Metro ferries have had over one lakh people in a week, while Kochi Metro, operating since 2017, still struggles to reach one lakh commuters per day figure.

NATPAC officials met with their metro counterparts to discuss ways of boosting footfall in the modern, air-conditioned public transport systems.

To make the metro and water metro more commuter-friendly, a network of electric autos and buses will provide seamless public transport connectivity from metro stations and Water Metro terminals.

All modes of commute under the Kochi-1 pre-paid mobility card will be integrated, and adequate parking lots will be created. This was announced to prioritise the improvement of first and last-mile connectivity.

Stakeholders hope that their ferries will attract tourists and commuters who want to avoid the barricaded Civil Line Road during the construction of the Kochi metro's Kakkanad extension.

Kochi metro

The first phase of Kochi Metro from Aluva to Petta, covering a length of 25.6 km with 22 stations, was completed at a cost of Rs 5,181.79 crore and is now fully operational.

The Kochi Metro Rail Phase II network will connect Ernakulam City Centre to the suburbs of Infopark and Kakkanad.

The Phase II of the project was approved by the Union cabinet last year at a cost of Rs 1,957.05 crore.

Phase II Metro will link Water Metro at InfoPark Jetty and Kakkanad Jetty.

Kochi water metro

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 April inaugurated the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro- India's first "Water Metro" service.

In the first phase, the water metro will operate with eight electric-hybrid boats on two routes: High Court to Vypin and Vyttila to Kakkanad. The anticipated journey time on both routes is around 20-25 minutes.

The project is intending to utilise the existing waterways in and around Kochi and comprises 15 identified routes over 76 route kilometre.