15 e-buses to ply on metro’s feeder routes from June
They are expected to usher in first and lastmile connectivity, helping improve patronage in the metro that is struggling to attain the target of one lakh passengers a day
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has finally decided to introduce a dedicated fleet of 15 ebuses to operate services on the metro’s feeder routes in June, seven years after its commissioning in 2017.
This is expected to usher in first and lastmile connectivity, helping improve patronage in the 28kmlong metro that is struggling to attain the target of one lakh passengers a day.
“The metro agency has placed an order to procure a total of 15 thirtytwo seat airconditioned ebuses to ferry commuters from metro stations to prominent commuter hubs in the Greater Kochi area. This is in keeping with demand from commuters and is expected to plug gaps in firstand lastmile connectivity,” metro sources said.
These madetoorder ebuses would in turn lessen commuters’ reliance on private vehicles to reach the 25 stations in the metro’s phaseone corridor. With the KSRTC not willing to spare 30 buses that KMRL had sought to operate on feeder routes, the metro agency had invited expression of interest (EoI) from firms to operate ebuses similar to the halfadozen such buses that used to operate under the banner of Kleen Smart Bus Limited (KSBL) — a publiclimited company jointly promoted by bus operators from Kochi and resident and nonresident Keralites. This was in the wake of the metro’s daily loss mounting to over ₹1 crore, and the daily passenger patronage falling short of the one lakh target.
KSRTC buses
Sources in the KSRTC said that contrary to earlier proposals, the agency had no plans to introduce ebuses like the ones operating in Thiruvananthapuram, in Kochi.
“As for dieselrun feeder buses from metro stations, we had to withdraw many such services due to inadequate demand during offpeak hours. Only five of them are operating now. Considering the demand for such buses from metro stations to Menaka, Thopumpady, Infopark, and Angamaly, we could deploy a few of our buses on these passengerdense feeder routes,” they added.
CSML funds
In 2023, the Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) director board had expressed willingness to set apart funds to procure a fleet of feeder buses for the metro.
The sole condition was that a special purpose vehicle (SPV) had to be floated for the purpose, controlled by the Mayor. “Industries Minster P. Rajeeve had taken it up with the State government since such an SPV was crucial to operating feeder buses that could be purchased using CSML funds, and also rollon rolloff ferries that operated in the Fort KochiVypeen corridor. A policy decision by the government in this regard is expected post the Lok Sabha polls,” said sources in the Kochi Corporation.