KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is planning to set up multi-level parking facilities at major stations of the Kochi Metro to resolve the parking woes of the commuters.Initially, the facilities will be set up at three major stations, including Aluva and Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, and will be later extended to other stations. According to KMRL authorities, most of the commuters taking the metro ride in the intial few months are either one-day riders or joy riders.
“A wider parking area will only be required once the project is extended at least up to Maharaja’s College. Once the metro gets connected to the city centre, more people will start using it. We believe the regular passenger base of the metro too will increase by that time. So, more parking lots and feeder services will be arranged along with the extension of the project,” said the KMRL spokesperson.
Tenders to be floated soon
The tenders for setting up multi-level parking facilities will be floated soon. “We hope the proceedings in connection with the bid can be completed within two months and the work can be started by September this year,” the spokesperson said.
Parking tariff
The public have been complaining about the parking tariff of KMRL at the parking lot near the Aluva station. For parking car, a passenger will have to pay `30 for two hours, while it is `15 for two-wheelers.
After two hours, cars will be charged `15 per hour, while the two-wheeler owners will have to shell out `5 per hour. For 24-hour parking, the charge for four-wheelers is `250 and `100 for two-wheelers. Parking fee concession is only for KMRL staff.
If passengers coming from Angamaly side to Lulu Mall prefer to take metro rail from Aluva, they will have to park the vehicles at the parking bay near the station. The ticket up to Edappally will cost `40 per person. A five-member family will have to spend `200 to reach Edappally. If they spend at least three hours in the mall and return to Aluva on the metro train, they will have to pay the same amount for the return ticket, in addition to the parking charges.“We hope the KMRL will come up with a proper parking plan/policy which will be in favour of the passengers,” said Libin Latheef, a native of Aluva.