Urban planners call for passenger-centric transport infra in Kochi

Stress laid on futuristic projects in view of manifold rise in number of commuters in coming decades

Architects and urban planners have sought inclusion of passenger-centric and climate-resilient solutions for infrastructure projects in Kochi, especially in the context of the proposal to relocate the KSRTC bus station to Karikkamuri, and to build a commercial complex in its place. Such projects entailing substantial public funds must not be stop-gap fixes, which abound in India. It is good that decision makers opted for an inter-modal hub at Vyttila — the Vyttila Mobility Hub (VMH) — away from the city hub and on the eastern side of the NH Bypass, over a decade ago, said Annet Bincy Edwin, urban planner-cum-consultant architect, who was associated with the smart city project in Shillong. “Long-distance buses must be routed through the NH Bypass, so that they call at VMH and do not need to waste time and fuel commuting all the way through congested roads to Karikkamuri where the new bus station has been envisaged. Entry to the new facility could be limited to mofussil buses which operate to the suburbs and to city buses. This is because extremely narrow roads dominate the Karikkamuri area, and that leaves little space for manoeuvring vehicles. It is also prone to getting flooded, just like the premises of the existing bus station,” she said.