KOCHI: With the opening of the new KURTC (Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation) depot at Thevara, the demand for developing the area as a major transport integration hub is gaining momentum.
Division councillor P. R. Ranish has introduced a resolution in the recent corporation council meeting seeking the state government’s intervention in developing Thevara as a Metro mini hub.
“A representation has already been submitted to Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to revive the ancient Perumanoor railway station. When the DEMU train service is extended to Willingdon Island, the station will facilitate integration of various modes of transport. The existing dockyard of the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation near KURTC hub can be developed as a jetty for the proposed speedboat service of Kochi Metro Rail. All these can be connected through a pedestrian flyover,” said Ranish.
The Union Railway minister has agreed to consider the proposal. “Discussions were also held with KMRL managing director Elias George who also has expressed interest in taking up the boat jetty project. The state government should only formally approve the proposal so that other agencies can take up the projects,” he said.
With the presence of the Naval Base, Cochin Shipyard, five schools and a college, Thevara is a busy and strategically important area.
If the proposal is realised, it will benefit 14,000 school students, thousands of college students, more than 1,500 workers of Cochin Shipyard and hundreds of daily commuters from areas like Kumbalam and Nettoor.
