KOCHI: If Kochi Metro Rail Ltd’s (KMRL) plans to integrate various modes of public transport wants to gain momentum, the state government will have to enact the Unified Metro Politian Transport Authority (UMTA) Act. The UMTA bill has been long pending before the government waiting to be taken up for discussion in the state legislative assembly.
“Many decisions taken to integrate public transport systems will become legally binding when UMTA Act comes into effect. When there is legal backing the implementation process become less complicated,”
said KMRL spokesperson.
Though Kochi Metro has become operational from Aluva to Maharaja’s College Ground, the introduction of buses along many unserviced routes linking metro stations have not taken place. The rerouting of private buses and rescheduling timetable is a highly arduous task.
“Private bus operators can benefit from Kochi Metro if they are allowed to ply buses along new routes. The state government should not delay enacting the UMTA Act,”
said TJ Raju, state president, All Kerala Bus Operator’s Forum.
Timely and effective operations of feeder services linking Kochi Metro stations and Kochi Water Metro jetties with various regions in the city is essential to bring in passengers using private vehicles to public transport systems. The effec tiveness of Kochi1 mobile app and Kochi1 card will also depend on UMTA Act. The mobile app and Kochi1 card facilitates seamless integration of transport.
The KMRL spokesperson said that they have reworked the UMTA draft bill and “have given it more teeth”. It has been subjected to a thorough scrutiny by various departments including the law department, transport department. “The chief secretary has also seen it.We hope the UMTA draft bill will come before the state assembly in December,” she said.
If state legislature gives its approval, Kochi will become the first city to have a public transport system which would be regularised by UMTA.
