Metro to launch more feeder buses

Kochi: Kochi Metro authorities are likely to introduce more feeder bus services from different stations to various destinations in and around the city, including Nedumbassery airport. The move is in the backdrop of the positive response from passengers to the existing feeder services. It was in the first week of March that Metro decided to conduct feeder services from its 10 major stations to different destinations on the outskirts of the city. KMRL had signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the bus service with Maha Voyage Group, a Mumbai-based private group and Kleen Smart Bus Limited (KSBL), an operating agency, for the purpose. Currently, a total of six feeder bus services are being operated from different Metro stations. Among them, two services are being operated between Aluva Metro station and Nedumbassery airport. One service is running between Angamali-Edappally and another service between Paravur and Edappally Metro station. Two services are being operated from Vyttila station to Eramellur and Perumbavoor.Sources at KSBL said that almost all services have been attracting a large number of passengers and that more services would be introduced soon. Earlier, Maha Voyage group had offered a total of 10 buses for the operation of feeder services. But four buses are yet to be delivered to KMRL.“We are expecting that more buses would be delivered in the coming days and more feeder services would be introduced in different routes including Aluva-Nedumbassery route,” said the KSBL source. The routes are yet to be finalized. Currently the feeder buses are operating on Aluva –Nedumbassery route every 40 minutes. KMRL is also planning to launch hydrogen buses as feeder services.