Study to re-route Kochi bus traffic

KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has taken the initiative for a study to prepare a re-routing the bus traffic in Kochi after the commissioning of the metro train services.

The study will especially focus on re-routing the bus traffic from Aluva to Ernakulam, having one of the largest densities of bus traffic in the district.

The Delhi-based Urban Mass Transit Company will undertake the study for KMRL, a source told DC on Thursday. The study will be based on primary level data that included the opinions of regular passengers using the bus services.

The re-routing of bus services will be essential as the commissioning of first phase of the Metro connecting Aluva to Maharajas College would cut down the requirement of the number of buses in the route.

At present 650 buses are operating in the Aluva-Ernkaulam Route. A major section of the passengers currently using the bus services are expected to shift to the Metro after its commissioning.

Re-routing of bus services is a logical necessity after the commissioning of the metro services, source in KMRL said. ‘We needed to have a comprehensive plan and strategy for redeploying the number of buses that would become redundant after the commissioning of the metro”, said the source. KMRL authorities will also undertake discussions with the bus owners on the redeployment of the fleet.