LOW FLOOR BUSES IN KOCHI

LOW FLOOR BUSES IN KOCHI

The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) prepared a detailed project report for introducing low-floor bus service in Kochi.
The project will utilise the funds to be released by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for Kochi under the urban road transport component.



Special purpose vehicle
The Local Administration Department, Kerala Urban and Rural Development Fund Corporation and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) are the other stakeholders of the special purpose vehicle.
Even while initiating steps to get the bus transport project going, the council has decided to urge the Mission authorities to support it in setting up an inland water transport network too.



Central aid
The project had been suggested for Kochi considering the 10-lakh plus population of what is called the Kochi Urban Agglomerate.
It has been suggested to purchase 110 low-floor buses under the scheme and run a mass rapid transport system in the city.



Project report
Though it was earlier suggested that WAPCOS, an empanelled consultant, prepared the detailed project report, Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty suggested that the works be assigned to the NATPAC considering its expertise in the field.
Studies
The NATPAC had earlier conducted transport-related studies for Kochi and the data generated during these studies used for the preparation of the report

Bus terminals were set up at Vyttila, Kakkanad, Thripunithura, Vypeen, Fort Kochi and Aroor.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS FROM A SOCIAL WORKER'S POINT OF VIEW

• It is a good sign of urban development
• It will make a lot of traffic problem in the city
• The condition of the road should be improoved
• The travelling expence is higher in compared to the ordinary service of buses, the poor people can not afford the travelling expence
• The political parrties are trying to project the introducation of the bus as there achievement. So a politicalization was happened in it
• It is suggest that 110 bus will introduce in coming year, the government have to spend a good amount of rupees. in the other side we have a lot of issues to be tackle. the government have to pay they attention into those issues also.

CONCLUSION

NOW IT IS OUR DUTY TO ASSESS IS THIS IS A PART OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT? ARE THE CITIZEN/ THE LARGE COMMUNITY GET BENEFIT OUT OF IT?

JOBI BABU