KOCHI: With more and more townships and institutions coming up In Kochi's outer fringes, the demand for public transportation facilities to these places has also increased. However, the issue has remained largely unaddressed. As a result, the people going to the Infopark, Ernakulam Medical College, Aster Medcity and other such areas have to rely either on autorickshaws or cabs to reach their destinations.
"Another option before the commuters is to take buses - plying through the serpentine routes - till a midway point and then hail a cab or an auto rickshaw to reach their destination. Not only does this consume time and energy, but money as well. The entire issue can be resolved if new bus routes are sanctioned," said Shimmy, Cheranelloor panchayat member.
According to Shimmy, with the launch of the metro train, buses operating along the route are finding it difficult to make a tidy earning."Traffic snarl-ups, inability to keep up with their service timings, 'competition running' and also the round-about routes have led to a drastic drop in patronage. But, the problem can be resolved if the routes are redrawn," he said.He said all these can be done in tandem with the Kochi Metro. "Launching of bus services connecting the metro stations and various places will not only benefit the commuters, but also the metro and bus operators," he said.
Shimmy said dedicated mobile apps can make any bus route viable in a city like Kochi.
A mobile app providing various information like bus timings, routes, frequency of services and bus stops, is being developed. This will help commuters in a big way, he said.Kerala Public Transport Day organiser Danu Raj said there is no hindrance in creating new routes. "According to the authorities concerned, new routes will be sanctioned if a bus operator applies for a permit along that route. However, this was not the situation earlier," said Danu.
"At the Kochi Transport Day function on Saturday, Transport Commissioner K Padmakumar had said Chittur- Aster- Kalamassery metro-HMT Junction- Kakkanad is a viable route and if the bus operators submit a request seeking permit on the route, it will be considered and sanctioned."According to Shimmy, a bus operator has agreed to try out the route. "However, discretion should be shown while allotting the services," he said.