Draft Mobility Plan for Kochi Faces Criticism

The draft Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the Greater Kochi area, developed by the Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) for Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), has encountered significant criticism from key stakeholders and traffic planners. The draft, which was unveiled a month ago, was the subject of intense discussion at a recent presentation hosted by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) on August 20 in Kochi. The consensus among experts is that the CMP requires substantial revision to address its perceived shortcomings before it can be finalised.

During the presentation, stakeholders highlighted the need for third-party evaluation of the draft CMP, recommending that an independent agency be tasked with vetting the plan’s proposals. This, they argue, is crucial to ensuring that the plan is both comprehensive and equitable, addressing the diverse needs of the city’s public transportation system. The call for revision stems from concerns that the current draft focuses excessively on capital-intensive projects, such as the Kochi Metro, which, while beneficial, have a limited reach and do not adequately serve the broader public transportation network.

A former executive officer of the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) underscored the necessity for a balanced approach that gives due consideration to all modes of public transport. He pointed out that cities like London and Singapore have achieved transportation efficiency through meticulously prepared master plans that cater to a wide array of transit options. In contrast, the draft CMP for Kochi appears skewed towards high-cost infrastructure projects without sufficiently addressing the needs of other transport modes such as buses and ferries.

One of the critical issues raised was the inadequate attention given to the condition of key bus stands, particularly the Vyttila Mobility Hub and the KSRTC bus stand. Stakeholders stressed that the CMP should include clear recommendations for improving these vital facilities, which serve as crucial nodes in the city’s transport network. Additionally, the absence of dedicated manpower within the KMTA was flagged as a significant impediment to the effective implementation of the CMP. Stakeholders urged the State government to allocate adequate resources to the KMTA to enable it to fulfil its mandate effectively.

The meeting also saw a call for extending the public consultation period for the draft CMP, allowing for a more thorough examination and feedback from various quarters. The stakeholders’ concerns reflect a broader apprehension that the CMP, in its current form, may fall short of addressing the comprehensive mobility needs of Kochi’s growing population.