Double-Decker Bus Service Set To Be Launched In Kerala's Kochi In January 2025

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will roll out its double-decker bus service in the Kochi city by the first week of January 2025.

Designed specifically for tourism, the service aims to attract travellers to key city landmarks.

Initial plans outline a 12.5-kilometer route for the double-decker bus, covering various destinations like the High Court, Madhava Pharmacy Junction, Jos Junction, Shipyard, Thevara, Naval Base, Toll Bridge, Mattancherry, and Fort Kochi.

KSRTC officials, however, clarified that another trial run will be conducted before finalising the route, with alternate routes under consideration to address potential traffic bottlenecks.

"We propose to conduct around six trips a day on this route. If there are any issues like traffic congestion or time-related ones, we will reroute the service. If we get a good footfall, we will consider whether the service can be extended to nighttime," a senior KSRTC official was quoted as saying by ET Infra.

Feasibility studies were carried out on multiple routes, including that to Tripunithura, but the metro viaduct posed a significant challenge.

"Since it is a double-decker bus with a height of around 4.5 m, we can operate it only on a stretch without any overhead obstructions. This is causing the delay in finalising the route," a KSRTC official explained.

The official added that more routes will be added as per the public demand.

To accommodate the double-decker bus, hanging cables along the Fort Kochi-Mattancherry route are being cleared.

The bus service is part of KSRTC’s ‘budget tour package’ initiative, introduced to address the Corporations' financial crisis.

In addition to the double-decker service, KSRTC plans to launch city circular services with 11 new electric buses. These services aim to improve urban connectivity and offer cost-effective travel options.

The Kochi Next Forum, a city-based social collective, has recommended 14 circular routes and six radial routes to KSRTC.

Among the key circular services suggested are Ernakulam Bus Stand-Marine Drive-Gandhinagar; MG Road-Vaduthala-Chittoor; Fort Kochi-Aroor-Vyttila; Thevara-Ravipuram; and Vyttila Hub-Kizhakkekotta-Kundannoor.

The radial routes suggested include Aluva Metro via Kalady-Perumbavoor and Vypeen to Cherai and Varapuzha.

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