Latest news with #KochiMetro
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Showers drive up metro ridership as traffic surges on rain-battered roads in Kochi
KOCHI: Kochi Metro ridership has surged in the last three weeks, with an increasing number of commuters turning to the mass rapid transit system as incessant monsoon rains add to the proliferating network of potholes, which have exacerbated the gridlock on key stretches of road, especially during rush hour. 'While our average daily ridership is one lakh, this was breached several days this month,' a Kochi Metro spokesperson said. Total daily ridership was 1,10,458 on July 7, an impressive 1,32,973 on July 8, 1,15,196 on July 10, and 1,13,873 on July 14. However, the city's much-touted Water Metro has seen a dip in patronage since the onset of heavy rains: Daily passenger footfall was 2,704 on July 15, against the average of 6,000. 'Earlier, I used to take a private bus to the railway station. But now I get down at JLN Stadium and catch the metro. I do this to avoid slow-moving traffic on Banerjee Road. Traffic woes have compounded with the arrival of rainy season. I switched to the metro after I missed my return train one day,' said Aparna S, an IT professional who commutes daily between Alappuzha and Infopark. Pothole-riddled and waterlogged roads have compounded the misery of motorists and pedestrians alike and traffic blocks are now a common sight at major intersections such as Palarivattom, Edappally and Vyttila. 'With incessant rains continuing to lash the city, daily city commuters, especially those living near metro stations, have switched over to the elevated transportation system,' pointed out V C Jayendran, convenor of the Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Associations (TRURA), an umbrella organisation of nearly 140 residents' associations. Highlighting the metro's unique advantage, he added, 'It assures that you reach your destination on time. It takes only 15 minutes to travel from Tripunithura railway station to South railway station. It cancels out the unpredictability of taking to congested roads.' The situation is especially bad at Vyttila Junction. 'Now, the queue of vehicles at the junction extends all the way to Elamkulam metro station during the morning and evening peak hours,' rued Vyttila councillor Sunitha Dixon. Expressing anguish over the delay in implementing a traffic-reform plan, she noted that measures such as the 'free left turn' haven't been effectively implemented. 'Stakeholders should carry out the proposals on a war-footing,' Sunitha said, adding that the Kerala Road Fund Board has allotted Rs 1.5 crore for developing the junction. As Kochi grapples with its monsoon-induced nightmares, the metro stands tall as a crucial lifeline, offering relief to thousands of commuters navigating the city's increasingly challenging road network.
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kochi Metro marks 8th anniversary with rise in ridership; eyes 3.65 crore in 2025
KOCHI: As it steps into its eighth year of operations, which falls on Tuesday, the Kochi Metro has grown beyond a mere urban transit system to become a prominent symbol of modern infrastructure and development in Kerala and the nation. Spearheaded by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the metro system — alongside India's first-ever water metro — has positioned Kochi as a model city in sustainable urban mobility. After successfully implementing metro systems in Kochi, KMRL is now working towards extending similar services to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Additionally, a feasibility study is currently underway to introduce water metro services in 21 locations across India, based on the successful Kochi model. Metro eyeing record ridership this year The Kochi Metro eyes a record total ridership of 3.65 crore this year, up from the 3.5 crore (which is the total population of Kerala). The ridership has been witnessing a continuous rise with over one lakh passengers on weekdays. When the services began in 2017–18, annual ridership stood at 1 crore (1,00,71,036), growing to nearly 2.5 crore (2,48,81,600) by 2022–23. Now, the total ridership (since beginning operations) is expected to cross the 13 crore mark by the end of this year. 'The Kochi Metro became the first Indian metro service to record an operational profit in a short span, reporting an operating surplus of D22.5 crore in the 2023-24 financial year. The operating profit is expected to grow further in the 2024–25 as well,' a metro spokesperson said. A significant portion of Kochi Metro's ridership comprises young commuters. 'Its modern amenities have made it especially appealing to the youth,' the official said. KMRL is also exploring new transit solutions, including a proposed elevated tramway from the High Court to Thevara. Meanwhile, construction on the Palarivattom-Kakkanad-Infopark corridor — part of Phase II — is progressing steadily, and preliminary work for a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Aluva–Angamaly stretch under Phase III has begun. With an aim to enhance first-mile and last-mile connectivity, 15 feeder buses have been added to extend metro accessibility across various city centres. The launch of electric feeder services between Vyttila, Tripunithura, and Infopark has opened up the potential for circular metro travel within the city.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kochi Metro targets increase in ridership during eighth year
Kochi: Kochi Metro , which is celebrating its eighth anniversary on Tuesday, is aiming to increase ridership by 10 lakh this financial year. It was on June 17, 2017, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the service, revolutionizing public transport system in the city. According to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) authorities, they are targeting 3.65 crore passengers in the financial year. Ridership during 2024-25 financial year was 3.56 crore. Having successfully implemented Metro rail and Water Metro in Kochi, KMRL is now preparing to replicate Metro project in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Feasibility studies are under way to launch Water Metro services in 21 locations across the country. SFI seeks travel concession Students' Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest demanding reinstatement of student travel concessions in Kochi Metro. District committee of the outfit marched to Kochi Metro's corporate office at JLN Stadium station on Monday. Protesters staged a sit-in in front of the office. Protest was inaugurated by SFI district president Ashish S Anand. Protest was temporarily called off following discussions with KMRL. SFI informed that authorities assured that student passes would be reinstated within eight working days. Anand said protests would intensify if no action is taken.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Kochi Metro boat grazes Ro-Ro vessel at Vypeen; none injured
KOCHI: A Kochi Water Metro ferry brushed a Ro-Ro jhankar at Vypeen jetty on Saturday morning after its pilot lost control of the vessel due to strong undercurrents. However, no one was hurt. The incident happened at 10.23am when the metro boat from High Court veered in the gushing waters while attempting to berth at Vypeen jetty. The boat went 20m rearward and brushed the jhankar berthed at the adjacent corporation jetty. The jhankar was ready to set off for Fort Kochi with passengers and vehicles on board. The steel railing on the side of the jhankar was damaged. The metro boat also suffered slight damages. A Kochi Metro spokesperson however said that neither of the vessels suffered any damage. 'All the passengers alighted safely after the vessel was moved to the boat jetty. Ferry services were suspended for close to two hours as the undercurrents due to low tide were strong,' the official said. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has instituted an internal probe.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
KMRL: High upkeep cost behind call to lay paver tiles on medians
KOCHI: As environmentalists and various political outfits have intensified their protests against Kochi Metro replacing micro gardens with concrete paver tiles on medians along the metro corridor, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has cited high maintenance cost - amounting to Rs 8 crore per annum - for not retaining the green spaces. 'There are 400 median stretches along the Aluva-Tripunithura metro corridor and only 60 of them have sponsorships. Some of the sponsors are no longer in the picture, though their advertisement are still visible, for instance on the Banerjee Road stretch,' a senior KMRL official said. According to him, a sum of Rs 25,000 is needed every month to maintain a single stretch of garden. 'It costs around Rs 2.5 crore annually to maintain a single stretch. The total annual maintenance cost adds up to Rs 8 crore. Taking out the stretches with sponsors, it will still cost us Rs 6-6.5 crore for garden maintenance,' the official said. KMRL recently issued a tender for median beautification by laying concrete paver tiles in the stretch between Edappally and SN Junction. The work includes the laying of 60 mm thick concrete paver tiles over a 50 mm bed of 6 mm aggregates. 'The licensee shall do the levelling, filling and compacting of the medians, laying of paver tiles and shall install MS railing in all the medians,' the tender document read. However, various environmental organisations have come out in the open against the move, saying that it is in complete violation of 'promises' initially made to set up gardens along the medians and maintain them. 'During discussions with environmental activists when trees were cut for metro rail construction from Aluva to Pettah, the then metro authorities promised to plant flowering plants to beautify the medians. The authorities should step back from the move and take steps to fill the medians with plants and greenery,' a joint statement said.
