Vyttila Mobility Hub | Public Transit Development

[Malayaali]

Metro rail station to find place in Hubs design

The proposal by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) to set up a metro rail station at Vyttila Mobility Hub has reached a new height. The private consultancy firm KITCO is to come up with a design to incorporate the station above the long distance bus terminal which is to be commissioned at the hub soon. The plan will be implemented as part of the second phase of the Vyttila Mobility Hub project.

According to M Beena, MD, Vyttila Mobility Hub, KITCO was entrusted with the job last week. “A new design was needed as the old design for the
project did not have a metro station in it. The preparation of the new draft will take at least four months,” M Beena said.

Earlier, KMRL had submitted a feasibility report in the presence of the mobility hub officials, DMRC officials and other agencies, suggesting the setting up of a metro station there. “The report stated that the station at the hub will make travelling easy for the metro rail passengers who wish to travel long distance. The easy availability of long distance buses will ensure faster transit for them,” she said. The initial plan was to set up the metro station at the Vyttila junction. Besides the metro station, the other projects in the second phase include the setting up of two-storied parking terminals for long distance private and KSRTC buses, an underground parking area for passengers and shopping complexes. “Everything in the second phase will be furnished using the latest technology, such as thinner concrete tiles, central air-conditioning etc. In addition, there will be two more phases for the hub’s development,” Beena added.

[Malayaali]

Vyttila Mobility Hub to have a police aid post

Mobility hub in Vyttila is all set to have a Police Aid Post on its premises. The Home Ministry had already given instructions to set up the aid post here. This will take the security arrangements for the passengers at the hub to the next level. An aid post with one sub-inspector, three policemen and two women police will ensure security of the passengers 24x7.

“The State Government has given permission to open a Police Aid Post at the hub, which has basic facilities for its set up. The government has already sanctioned six new permanent positions at the aid post. Once the vacancies are filled, the aid post will start functioning,” said Kochi City Police Deputy Commissioner T Gopalakrishna Pillai.

The city police authorities are also planning to shift the control room to the mobility hub. If the plan works out, the control room at Thevara near the Ernakulam South Police Station will be shifted to the hub. The hub, which is the centre of the transport activities of the city comes under the Panangad Police Station limit. At present, two policemen are deployed at the hub and are in-charge of the security. However, considering the importance of the hub, the Home Ministry decided to create the new positions here. Earlier, DGP had proposed the idea of opening a Police Aid Post at the hub to the Home Minister. More than 1000 Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and equal number of private buses enter the hub daily.
Currently, two policemen from the Panangad Station are deployed at the hub on a shift basis, one for morning and one for the night hours.

ENSURING SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS

The State Government has given permission to open a Police Aid Post at the hub. The government has already sanctioned six new permanent positions at the aid post. Once the vacancies are filled, the aid post will start functioning. If the plan works out, the control room at Thevara near the Ernakulam South Police Station will be shifted to the hub. At present, two policemen are deployed at the hub on the shift basis and are in-charge of the security

[NeeChalee]

Can I ask one thing? Do any of the bodies related with the development of the hub or kochi metro or the vyttila jn have any plans to have flyover entries for the hub? Right now a lot of congestion is created by turning buses at both entry exit of the hub. Till now I have not seen any discussion on this matter. Since the hub is near one of the most congested and busy junctions in the city, I think such a plan should be there. The hub itself is a great idea but I feel it needs some supporting infrastructures.
1) entry and exit flyovers
2) foot over bridges and foot pathways
3) pedestrian traffic control
4) drop of and pick up points for private transportation.

Plz tell me whether there is any plan to have any of these. I feel that these can be built faster than a metro station and it can improve the hub to a great extend.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by NeeChalee

C The hub itself is a great idea but I feel it needs some supporting infrastructures.
1) entry and exit flyovers
2) foot over bridges and foot pathways
3) pedestrian traffic control
4) drop of and pick up points for private transportation.

Plz tell me whether there is any plan to have any of these.

Exit and Entry will be easy once NHAI build the planned interchange at Vytilla. Majority of the traffic, you see now, will be bypassed through the flyovers. Also the Vytilla-Peta road development will incorporate proper exit to the road.

There is a Skywalk planned for pedestrians at Vytilla, which will also take care of the traffic towards hub. Already the work on the footpath to the hub is progressing or might have completed.

There is facilities for private vehicles for pick and drop already, and once the phase II is completed, parking facilities for a large number of private vehicles will be provided.

[DileepKS]

[Malayaali]

VMH Phase II: International Consultants to design the project

Rs 370 crore phase II consists of a Bus terminal integrating Metro Rail station.


cc: Manorama

[Malayaali]

KITCO plans modern facility at the hub

Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) will seek the expertise of a global consultant for the preparation of an integrated design for the second phase of development of Vyttila Mobility Hub. The move aims at drafting an international concept for the hub, which will be first of its kind in the country. “With the proposed Kochi Metro Rail getting incorporated with the hub, it will turn into a state of the art facility which will offer interconnection to different modes of transport including rail and road. So, our consultant

KITCO has decided to develop an international concept for the second phase. The new integrated design which will be prepared with the help of an international consultant will be ready within four months,” said M Beena, managing director, Vyttila Mobility Hub Society.
She added that the hub authorities believe that the second tender proceedings for the second phase of construction can be floated within six months.

“Comparing to the first phase which was completed at estimated cost of `16 crore, the second phase will be more capital intensive. It will be completed at a budget exceeding Rs 300 crore. So we are planning to give due care to the preparations,” she added.

[psanthosh]

KOCHI: If all goes well, tenders for the second phase of construction at the Vytilla Mobility Hub Society (VMHS) will be floated within three months. In a move to facilitate the speedy construction of the second phase, the government chief secretary K Jayakumar will convene an executive committee meeting on May 31.

With the Metro authorities deciding to integrate the Kochi Metro project with the mobility hub, VMHS has approached design consultants to make the required alterations in the plan for the second phase.

"The executive committee meeting is expected to formally give its concurrence to the plan to alter the design of the hub. The draft agreement to get loans from the consortium of banks will be submitted for approval. On getting the sanction, VMHS can sign agreement with banks," said VMHS managing director M Beena. Once the committee accepts the pre-qualification process, the mobility hub management can proceed with the process of inviting tenders. "Prior to this the new design will have to be approved. And we expect that these procedures will be completed in three months," she added.

The proposal to assimilate water transport with the hub is also active. The managing director said that Kerala Inland Navigation Corporation (Kinco) is conducting a feasibility study on the project. She added that with the Metro making an entry into the hub, chances of the district administration dropping the 300-metre skywalk project were high.

The second phase is estimated to cost Rs 376 crore. The government has allocated Rs 5 crore for it. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) will provide Rs 40 crore, while Union Bank of India will give Rs 264 crore.

"UBI and Federal Bank have already given sanction letters. Other banks will join in subsequently. The society has urged the state to provide Rs 40 crore for the speedy completion of the work," said Beena.

With banks coming into the picture, ATMs will be installed in the bus terminal. Earlier it was informed that UBI would be given one ATM, while tender would be floated for the second. Although the hub allocates space in the terminal, banks will have to construct structures to suit their purposes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/13579988.cms

[Malayaali]

Land to be acquired to widen Entry & Exit to VMH

Around 2 acres of land need to be acquired; to cost Rs 56 crore.


cc: Mathrubhumi

[Malayaali]

VMH Phase II: KITCO to call International design consultancy tender

VMH will be the first project in the country incorporating Metro station and Bus terminal.

International design consultant will work out the best model to make the project a tourist attraction.

The boat jetty beside the terminal will be modeled on Kerala architecture.

VMH society will sign contract with consortium of banks for the Rs 264 crore loan for the project.


cc: Manorama

[Malayaali]

Tourism splash with hub jetty

Tourism promotion through Kochi’s backwaters has got a major uplift as the Vyttila Mobility Hub authorities have decided to set up a boat jetty next to the facitlity.

The executive committee of the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society that met in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday gave its in-principle nod for a boat jetty near the hub to tap the tourism potential of the less-explored water network in the area.

The construction of the jetty would provide a hassle-free ride from Vyttila to Fort Kochi via Champakkara canal. Along with that, if the Vyttila Kunnara park-Mobility Hub tourism project proposed by the Corporation too becomes a reality, Kochi can count on its water transport infrastructure as a major revenue stream.

The Corporation in its annual budget has come up with a novel plan to exploit the immense potential offered by the Mobilty Hub. As per the proposal, a modernised walkway will be constructed on the western side of the Champakkara canal.

The walkway will connect the hub with the Kunnara Park. As the water in the area is comparatively shallow, it can be utilised for water sports. “If the Corporation has plans for commencing such a project, we will wholeheartedly support them. This will give further thrust to the activities of the hub, which will be an integrated facility of road, rail and water modes of transport,” said Vyttila Mobility Hub managing director M Beena.

The Corporation authorities too are upbeat about the project. “We will soon hold a meeting to assess the possibilities of making the proposed tourism project a reality. Our plan is to entrust Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) with the preparation of a draft plan for the project,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.

Revised Design

The executive meeting of the Vyttila Mobilty Hub Society has decided to prepare a new design for the proposed jetty and revise the estimated cost.

“We have presented the advanced design prepared by KITCO at the meeting. Though the officials were satisfied with the structural design, the agency was asked to come up with a new structure for the boat jetty that will give due importance to the aesthetic quality also. The meeting also cited the designs of advanced boat jetties in the Maldives as an example,” said Beena.

She said the estimated budget of the construction of the jetty would also be revised. “The meeting observed that the Rs 2.89 crore estimate for the construction of jetty is comparatively high. So it was decided to redesign the structure and revise the budget,” she said.

Beena said the Vyttila Hub society was hopeful of beginning the initial proceedings for the construction of the jetty within six months.

[Malayaali]

Helipad at mobility hub

The revised design being prepared for the Vyttila Mobility Hub, so as to include a metro station, would also have provisions for a helipad, thanks to a proposal made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a high-level meeting in which the official nod was given to phase-two of the international bus terminal.

“The government plans to build a helipad in every district in the future. So the chief minister suggested that one be set up at Vytilla. We’re making provisions for the same in the revised plan to be submitted to the Hub society in three months,” an official of KITCO, the technical consultancy organisation entrusted with the task, told DC.

However, he added that only provisions have been made in the plan and a final decision whether to have the facility or not, will have to come from the government.

“The ground and first floors will be used for bus parking and the next four are being mooted for commercial activities. The helipad, on receiving the final sanction, will be made on the rooftop of the six-storey structure,” the official said.

KITCO has floated tenders inviting architectural firms of international repute to prepare the revised masterplan for the second phase, which will have changes from the original plan to incorporate the metro station.

The move comes even as the Cochin International Airport Ltd is close to setting up three helipads at Nedumbassery.

The helipad at Vytilla is expected to facilitate the operation of air ambulances. Hospitals like Lakeshore, have already set up the facility and have applied for a licence.

The 60 million-dollar Vytilla Mobility Hub which will come up on 26 acres of land is envisaged as an integrated terminal where various modes of transportation converge at a single point, thus enabling a seamless exchange of various mode of transit for commuters.

[DileepKS]

Rooftop Helipad? The Navy and DGCA will promptly kill that proposal!!

[joe_28in]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

Rooftop Helipad? The Navy and DGCA will promptly kill that proposal!!

Will there really be any problem with roof top helipads. Many of the new high-rises in and around Kochi seem to have a helipad on top.

[DileepKS]

Yes, there are helipads. No, they can't be used, because Navy and DGCA deny permission to land helos on them. The only way a helo can land on them would be to declare emergency in the vicinity.

[Malayaali]

Mobility hub to have interstate bus services

Interstate buses will soon start operation via Vyttila mobility hub as the regional transport authority (RTA) meeting held on Tuesday has initiated preliminary discussions to consider this proposal.

Officials said the matter was raised at the RTA meeting following mobility hub managing director M Beena's request.

RTA officials, who were present during the meeting, said that there are no objections against this proposal.

"A final decision in this regard will be taken at the RTA board meeting in a couple of weeks," an official said.

"Now, long distance buses run by KSRTC are using the mobility hub and if interstate buses also chart services through the hub it would benefit commuters," said M Beena.

"Karnataka and Tamil Nadu buses are already willing to operate through our hub if they receive a communication from the RTA board. Once we get a final approval, we would provide space for ticket and reservation counters for them," she said.

RTA board that met at the collectorate discussed various other issues related to permit renewal and actions taken against private buses for violating rules and regulations.

[DileepKS]

That is a very welcome move.

[Malayaali]

KITCO shortlists 6 European companies for VMH Phase II

The second phase of work on the Vytilla Mobility Hub has gained momentum with six European companies being short-listed to prepare the revised plan, incorporating a metro station.

“The global Expression of Interest has evoked a good response which enabled KITCO to short-list six reputed European firms, including companies from Spain and the UK.

The data specifications to be provided to the eventual consultant are being worked out and will be handed out in a month,” a KITCO official said.

However, the metro station coming up in the Hub will not be of the standard format as that of the over 20 stations being set up elsewhere in the city.

“The integrated station will wear a different look and will be designed in such a way that it will have direct access to the upcoming boat jetty and the city bus platform. Once the design consultant is finalised, we’ll hold a joint meeting with the KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Ltd) officials,” Hub MD M. Beena said.

The original design of the Hub, a confluence of various modes of transportation, did not include the metro rail station. Then KMRL had suggested setting up the station inside the Hub, which the state cabinet gave a nod to at a high-level meet last month.

The preliminary phase of the country’s first inter-modal transit terminal is completed with about 50 bus bays and assorted facilities. In the coming up phase, the Hub is to integrate a boat jetty and the metro rail station in addition to city and suburb bus terminals. A helipad is also being planned for which provisions will be made in the revised plan.

[mohammedirshad06]

Interstate buses to operate from VMH

In a significant development, a board meeting of the regional transport authority (RTA) held on Sunday decided to direct buses operating in the interstate routes from the city to ply through the Vyttila mobility hub. The transport corporations of the neighboring states that operate from the city would be apprised of the decision shortly.

The authority, which had recently initiated the preliminary discussions in this regard, on the request of mobility hub managing director M Beena, took the decision considering the convenience of interstate passengers. At present, all interstate buses of other states operate from the main depot of KSRTC and not the mobility hub. Sources said that interstate buses were not plying to the hub as no official communication was made to them in this regard.

"If buses operating in the interstate route ply through mobility hub, passengers need not go to the KSRTC depot. It would be very convenient for passengers," said an official. He added that gradually interstate buses of the neighboring transport corporations would be asked to terminate their services at the KSRTC depot, as part of the plan to reduce traffic congestion in the city. Welcoming the decision, M Beena, said, "It is a significant step. We have already identified space for the crew of the buses of other states. The hub has the capacity to accommodate interstate buses. We can identify booking centres for them on their request."

She added that it is likely to take a month for the process as they need to get approval from their respective corporations for relocation. At present, 350 KSRTC buses and 450 private buses have been operating from the hub on a daily basis.

It was also decided to convene a meeting of traffic police personnel and KSRTC on July 19 to take a decision on the reshuffling of permits given to corporation as many are not operating despite being given permits.

[Malayaali]

Punching station at hub from August

A conductor with a bus card at the newlyintroduced punching system in the Vyttila Mobility Hub
in Kochi on Tuesday. The trial run of the system is on at the hub.

A radio-frequency enabled digitized punching station established at the Vyttila Mobility Hub will be inaugurated on August 11.

Its trial run has already begun, to ensure that private buses run on time. “Over 100 of the 450 private buses that operate from here have been given the card for the purpose; 350 of them have paid for the card,” said M. Beena, the managing director of the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society.

KSRTC buses too will be brought under its ambit once the concurrence of its head office is received. Currently, their manual punching system is working well. “The data obtained through the punching will be stored in the digitized format. Based on this, we will be able to inform passengers of the bus timings. An information counter will be opened following this. Later, the timings will be beamed across display boards,” said Ms. Beena.

She added that inter-State buses will soon be stationed at the hub, based on a decision taken by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).