Kochi: The Kochi city police have taken strong security measures to ensure the safety of Kochi Metro passengers anticipating the huge number of riders expected in the initial months.
Police personnel in plainclothes will be deployed in metro stations and outside to prevent any untoward incidents.
Deputy police commissioner Yatish Chandra told DC that the police were expecting a high number of metro riders and that the police were well-equipped to manage the additional crowd and vehicles.
"Apart from CCTV cameras, mufti police will be deployed to catch pick-pockets and chain- snatchers. The 'joy riders' expected in the initial days have been urged to use public transport to access metro stations to reduce traffic congestion in station areas," he said.
According to the DCP, it will be a 'trial and error' method to manage the additional crowd and vehicles since the metro is a new system. "Since there is no rough estimate on the number of daily commuters along the Aluva - Palarivattom stretch, a final system could be put in place after assessing the actual number of riders after a few months," he added.
However, Mr. Chandra admitted that an increase in vehicle density and slow-moving traffic are expected at all metro stations in the absence of proper parking facilities.
Meanwhile, a high-level police team made a security inspection along the metro corridor on Wednesday ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation principal advisor E. Sreedharan will visit the metro corridor from Aluva to Palarivattom on Thursday.
Lack of parking spaces to be a stiff challenge
With the Kochi Metro all set to begin commercial operations from next week, lack of enough parking facility in most of the stations will be a big challenge. There is no parking space even at the terminal station at Palarivattom where the busy road will be further congested when more vehicles access the Metro station. Of the 11 stations from Aluva to Palarivattom only Aluva, Edappally, CUSAT and Kalamassery stations have proper parking facilities.
Traffic police, local body authorities, merchants and traders have already raised serious concerns over the unpreparedness in handling the additional vehicle flow. Since all commuters will not be using public transport or the feeder services to be introduced by KMRL to reach Metro stations, lack of parking facilities will add to the traffic chaos.
City traffic police authorities have cautioned about the impact of insufficient parking space at Metro stations. When the Metro is opened, the number of riders, especially ‘joy riders’ from across state, will be high. With no parking facilities in stations, commuters have to park their vehicles on the sides of the road resulting in traffic jams.
KSEB rejected a KMRL request grant its 0.7 acres of land on rent or lease at Palarivattom to set up a temporary parking facility until the multi-level parking on KMRL’s premises is ready.
“Parking will be a major problem at Palarivattom as vehicles have to drop passengers at the busy road which will result in congestion, especially during peak hours. Being the terminal station, the number of vehicles and passengers will increase at Palarivattom,” said C.P Ajith Kumar of Suburban Travels whose office is adjacent to the station.
According to Lissy Abraham, Aluva municipal chairperson, being the Terminus, Aluva needs more parking facilities. “Though Metro authorities have set up a parking facility at the station it will not be sufficient. Municipality has proposed to construct a multi-level parking. But we are yet to get government funding,” she said.
