Outdated bus routes hobble rapidly changing ‘new’ Kochi

Kochi: City's transport landscape has been reshaped by elevated Metro corridors and the Water Metro. Yet its oldest and most vital link, the city bus network, remains largely outdated and fragmented. Private buses, KSRTC services and Metro feeder buses operate in the city have struggled to bridge the gap between older routes and the new transport infrastructure. Residents say poor integration has weakened first- and last-mile connectivity to Metro and Water Metro stations, while route overlaps and redundancies continue unchecked. The result is growing demand for a comprehensive overhaul that aligns bus services with the city's changing mobility patterns. In Elamakkara, where unreliable and poorly connected bus services have become a daily ordeal, a citizens' forum has stepped in. The Senior Citizen Friends Welfare Association (SCFWA) has launched a mass signature campaign seeking urgent reforms. Its memorandum, submitted to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd and the Ernakulam Regional Transport Office, calls for an integrated, commuter-focused network that reflects the city's expansion. "We face severe travel difficulties as only a few private buses operate through Elamakkara. We need better connectivity to Metro stations and major city centres, including circular or feeder services," said M C Sasidharan Nair, president of SCFWA. "We have submitted our petition to the KMRL managing director and the Ernakulam RTO for action." Similar concerns have been raised elsewhere. The Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association has urged authorities to introduce new routes aligned with current travel patterns. "If redeploying existing buses is not feasible, the administration should operate small electric buses on circular routes within Tripunithura municipality and nearby areas, linking them to Metro stations," said V C Jayendran, TRURA secretary. Resident associations in Panampilly Nagar, Ponnurunni East, Chilavanoor, Chathiath Road, Kadamakudy and Thevara have echoed the call. Ernakulam District Residents' Associations' Apex Council president P Rangadasa Prabhu pointed out that most city buses ply only along major corridors, leading to intense competition and unsafe driving. "Interior areas need connectivity through smaller e-buses," he said. A study by Delhi-based Urban Mass Transit Company, prepared for KMRL, underscored the urgency of route rationalisation. It found that 22% of city bus routes have more than 60% overlap. The last major rationalisation exercise was done two decades ago, and many routes remain unchanged despite the city's rapid expansion. D Dhanuraj, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research, noted that commuting patterns have shifted significantly. "It is time to identify new routes and introduce short-loop circular services that match present-day demand," he said. A senior motor vehicles department official said the transport department is considering permitting minibuses on new interior routes, though many proposed services currently focus on rural areas.