Urban Transport Initiatives of Govt. of Kerala, Kochi as a Pilot City

The Govt. of Kerala has been a front runner in promoting public transport. However, in the recent past, a trend towards the personalised transport has been observed and therefore the Govt. has decided to revitalise the public transport, following the modern era transportation systems and tool kits. To this direction, in Feb 2017, Govt. of Kerala had selected Kochi as a pilot city for implementation of Integrated Public Transport solutions and thus entrusted Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL- a 50:50 joint venture company of GoI & Gok) the task of initiating a pilot project, ‘Seamless Transportation for Kochi’. Under the directions of GoK, interventions at multiple levels, such as Administrative, planning, co-ordination, technical partnership etc. has been taken up through KMRL on improving mobility in the city.

Metropolitan Transport Authority – Kochi

As one of the key administrative reforms, the Govt. of Kerala had created the Unified Metrololitan Transport Authority (UMTA)-Kochi, through a G.O in June 2013, for integration of various modes of transportation systems. Presently, a draft the Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) bill-2018 is under the consideration of State Assembly for enactment. The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) 2006 & 2014 have given adequate thrust to cities to formulate MTAs and it is one of the mandate for all central funded urban transport projects.

Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Kochi

The Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Greater Kochi was prepared in 2015-2016, which has included Water Transport, Light Rail Transit, Electric-Bus Rapid Transit, Bus Priority Corridors, Non Motorised Transport, Public Bike Sharing, Bus route rationalisation & ITS infrastructure etc. as the proposals for better urban mobility.

Kochi Metro Rail

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd., has been assigned with operating an elevated corridor of 25 km with 22 stations. Presently KMRL is operating a section of 18 Km with 16 stations between Aluva and Ernakulam. The average daily ridership is around 35,000 and extension of system is under the consideration of Govt.  Metro is also operating a Solar PV system with capacity of 4 MW. Metro operations has incorporated gender equality (employed 12 transgenders), women empowerment (employed around 680 Kudumbasree Community Women Workers), safety and environmental conservation and rejuvenation (Vertical gardens on metro pillars and walkways).  Branding and Theming of Metro network has been given high priority taking into consideration the commercial and tourism potential of the city. Branding of metro stations have resulted in revenue recovery, through ‘Alternative Revenue Sourses”. Renting out of Commercial spaces in metro stations is underway. Four commuters with highest patronage to Metro Rail, using smart card, have been awarded in every month with “Shreshta Sanchari Puraskarm” with a travel charge coupen of Rs.500/-.

The ‘Seamless Transportaion for Kochi” project won the Urban Mobility India (UMI)-2017 award under the category of ‘Best City in the Urban Transport Initiatives”. The project also won the HUDCO Award 2017-2018 for the “Best Practices to improve the living envornment”, with Rs. 1 Lac as cash reward.

Cochin Smart Mission Ltd.:

The CSML is an SPV of GoK created for implementation of Smart City Programme, a challenge that won by Kochi City as the 5th Rank. Many works are underway including Urban Transport renewal programmes. The Govt. has ensured the Institutional level integration with appointing a common MD for both KMRL & CSML.

Non Motorised Transport Initiatives

Towards promotion of Non Motorised Transport, GoK has funded for reconstruction of roads along the metro rail corridor and accessibility to stations, as pedestrian/disabled friendly, in association with KMRL. A walkway cum cycle track at Panampilly Nagar and Hospital road has been designed and implemented by KMRL/Cochin Smart Mission Ltd. respectively. Recently, in November 2018, one of the Junction redesigning project of KMRL won the “Urban Mobility India (UMI)-2018 Award”, under the category of ‘Best NMT & Road Safety Project”.

A small scale pilot Public Bike Sharing system along metro stations is operational. A large scale pilot is underway with M/s. Hero Cycles as partner to set up a city-wide, Public Bicycle Sharing system in Greater Kochi area.

New Urban Transport Initiatives

Water Metro: The Govt. of Kerala in association with KMRL, implementing the ‘Water Metro’ - World’s second largest Integrated Water Transport system with 38 piers & 78 electric boats), aimed at connecting the islands to the main land Ernakulam. The project is implemented with the financial assitance of KfW, a German Development Bank for International co-operation.

E-BRT: The Govt. also recently cleared the proposal to take forward the proposal of building Electric Bus Rapid Transit (E-BRT) corridors for two sections, of 52km & 46.3 Km respectively, along with utility ducts, non-motorised infrastructure & Electric Vehicles as  Feeder system for first/last mile connectivity.

New Generation Tram/ Light Rail Transit: The Govt. is considering for building a 10.1 Km long New Generation Tram (NGT) for the first time in India as a pilot project in Kochi.

National Common Mobility Card:  India’s first ‘National Common Mobility Card’ (Kochi-1), based on ‘Rupay” transit specifications was founded by KMRL and currently operated in Kochi Metro. Launch of extension of Smart Card ticketing on to the buses is scheduled in Decemeber 2018.  This will be extended to boats, autos and PBS. The Govt. also in the process of enhansing the usage of NCB card as Driving Licence and to recreate the card as “God’s Own Travel card (GOT ?) for Travel, Shopping and as a Driving Licence.

Aggregation of Pvt. Buses: Under the ‘Seamless Transportation for Kochi’ project, the Govt., with the help of KMRL, aggregated aorund 950 fragmented Pvt. Buses (operators) in to 7 cluster based companies for fleet based operations. Subsequently, a journey Planner App, “CHALO’, covering all pvt. buses and boats operated by State Water Transport dept. has been launched in August 2018. The ‘Chalo’ App disseminates the live tracking of buses and boats and also helps commuter to plan their journey.

 Aggregation of Auto Rickshaws: The project also envisages integrating the ‘Intermittent Public Transport’ vehicles and therefore in the process of aggregating around 15,000 Auto Rickshaws in to one Society for Integrated feeder/hire/rental services and presently it is at the advanced stage of formation. A coordination committee have been formed by six auto rickshaw drivers trade unions in the city to eastabish a society. An Auto Ride App, “AUSA” is planned to be built unde a CSR fund. A website for Auto Society has been developed, www.autosavri.com. 

Electric Mobility: Electric Mobility has been given top priority. KMRL recently awarded the contract to M/s. Kinetic Green, for deployment of E-Autos as feeders, connecting 16 Metro Stations. The launch is scheduled by end of November 2018, whereas the Autos will be operated by the Auto Society. KMRL also signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between M/s. Vista Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd. to retrofit EVs of 3/4 wheelers, to be operated by the Auto Society.

Technical Partnerships and Programmes:

Kochi has recently commenced with the “Smart – Sustainable Urban Transport” (Smart-SUT), a technical assistance Project, funded by German Govt., through GIZ. (Rs.10 Cr. for  3 years). The Kochi city has also won the global challenge, “Mobilise Your City” (MYC), another technical assistance programme funded by French Govt., through AFD for about Rs.10 Cr. for 2 years, is about to kick-start in November 2018. KMRL had completed similar technical programme with CODATU & SYTRAL of Lyon, France, during 2015-2017 (2 ½  years) as part of City to City Cooperation agreement.

An MoU was signed between KMRL & WRI-India for Technical Assistance through a mentorship programme of 3 years (Feb 17 – Feb 19). An another MoU is under pipeline with GoK with formulation of 5 state level policies for promotion of public transport. KMRL has executed an MoU with Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology for IoT enabled Big Data Analytics platform for data analysis and thereby enabling the PT authorities to provide an efficient,fast responsive mechanism. M/s. Clean Air Asia is associated with Kochi City to perform dynamic monitoring of air quality in the city. Along with ICLEI, a technical partnership programme for 3 years, on ‘Urban Freight’ is under way and an MoU is expected to be signed soon with Kochi Municipal Corporation and KMRL.

E-Mobility Initiatives at State Level:

Government of Kerala has recently notified the “Electric Mobility Policy”.  GoK also formed an electric mobility state level Taskforce with Dr. (Prof.) Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Principal Advisor to Minister of Railways, GoI as Chairman. The taskforce is analysing the technology options for the State for six different vehicular modes, viz., the two wheelers, the three wheelers, the four wheelers, the cargo carriers, Buses (small & large) and the boats. To begin with, the 3 Wheeler Autos being the easiest and widely used public transport is targeted for revenue neutral conversion to e-Auto through battery swapping. The next priority is given for transition to e-Bus.

Kerala Electronics and Hardware Mission has prepared a detailed roadmap to set up a global hardware and electronics manufacturing hub in Kerala. The mission is betting heavily on setting up EV 2Wheeler and 3Wheeler manufacturing line and rejuvenating state-owned Kerala Automobiles (KAL).The report also recommends utilisation of potential for establishing a power electronics cluster in the state. M/s. Mahindra electric has already evinced interest in collaborating with M/s. Kerala Automobile Limited for rolling out battery swappable eAutos.

Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (In short KSEBL) is the integrated electric utility company fully owned by the Government of Kerala. It is the State Transmission Utility (STU) and the Distribution Licensee in the State of Kerala with own Generation stations. KSEBL is already piloting four solar PV powered Charging station (with DC fast charger option) in Thiruvanthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. E Car sharing demo project, which provides 2 nos. e2o+ cars for short term rental to its consumers in the three cities of Thiruvanthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode is also being showcased by KSEBL. Setting up charging hubs at an interval of 40-50Km along a highway is under consideration too. KSEBL has presented before State Planning board a project to set up bulk charging station in its substation premises at Kochi for establishing retail swapping outlets at metro stations to support eAutos for last mile connectivity.

Centre for Battery Engineering and Electric Vehicles (C-BEEV) in IIT Madras which is focusing on Battery pack development and testing, and electric vehicle (EV) design and optimization is supporting GoK in its endeavours.  The centre is a ‘One stop Technology Knowledge Centre for Batteries and EVs,’ for promoting industry-academia joint innovation and commercialization in India.

K. R. Jyothilal, IAS

Principal Secretary, Department of Transport,

Government of Kerala