The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), which has opened the Metro stretch from Aluva to Maharaja’s College ground, is now busy bringing private buses operating along the Metro corridor under co-operative societies.
AKBOF has 600 buses operating in Ernakulam district, and out of this 160 ply along the Metro corridor. Since the opening of the Kochi Metro till Maharaja’s College ground they have been suffering a 25% loss.
“It is high time the bus operators come together and benefit from the Kochi Metro. So we have floated KMTC and it will be inaugurated on Saturday ,”
said KMTC president TK Raju. He is also the state president of AKBOF.The coming up of the co operative societies will help to curb competition between buses and hence help to control speeding and rash driving.The buses operating under KMTC will link Kochi Metro stations, Kochi Water Metro services and other transport hubs in the city.
The Kochi1 card can be used in these private buses.
“Passengers can swipe the Kochi1 card in the buses and pay the fare. Axis Bank Ltd and Technovia Info Solutions provide the support for enab ling the ticketing system,”
said Raju. He also said the buses owners who are members of the society will decided on how to share the revenue.“The fare collected from the buses will go to Axis Bank.The bank will then transfer the amount to the account of the respective society within 24 hours. We will then share it among ourselves on the basis of the agreement made,”
KMTC said initially GPS systems will be installed in 10 buses. The passenger information system will provide information regarding the route and stops. There will be display system inside the bus.
The GPS system in the buses will be linked with Kochi Metro’s Kochi1 app.”This will enable commuters to use the journey planner in the app. The can get information regarding metro and bus timings and plan their journey accordingly ,” said KMRL spokesperson.
The bus society will follow all the norms set by de low all the norms set by department of co-operation.They will offer attractive interest rates, receive fixed deposits, introduce schemes like daily and weekly saving plans, loan against property , and provide financial as well as other assistance for vehicles including auto rickshaws and heavy vehicles.
KMRL spokesperson also said that various bus owners have come forward to float seven co-operative societies in Ernakulam. Similarly one agency will bring together auto-rickshaws operating in the city on one platform.
The autorickshaw employees are yet to decide whether they will constitute a society or a company . “KMRL just provides backend support,” she said.
