Vyttila Mobility Hub | Public Transit Development

[DileepKS]

Surprised to see that no thread for this project exists!

First phase of Vytilla mobility hub commissioned

GREEN SIGNAL: Transport Minister Jose Thettayil flagging off the
Kerala State Transport Corporation's double-decker bus from the
Vytilla bus terminal on Saturday.

The first phase of the Rs. 376-crore Vytilla bus terminal-cum-mobility hub was commissioned on Saturday.

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation's (KSRTC) newly-inducted double-decker was the first bus to be flagged off from the terminal. Transport Minister Jose Thettayil flagged off the bus.

Thirty-five buses can be parked at the seven bays of the first phase terminal, constructed at a cost of Rs.15-crore .

Once it becomes a full-fledged terminal-cum-hub for inter-modal (road, metro-rail, railways and waterways) transport by March, 2013, up to 2,000 buses are expected to use the terminal each hour. There will also be space to park private vehicles, taxis, and autorickshaws. Eateries, public comfort stations and so on will also be set up.

Suburban-rail corridor

“The recently commissioned Vallarpadam International Transshipment Terminal and the information technology (IT) projects in the pipeline will see a phenomenal increase in the number of vehicles in the city. Apart from the bus terminal-cum-mobility hub, the city urgently needs the metro-rail system for which the Centre is withholding permission. Similarly, Kochi did not get a suburban-rail corridor though Friday's railway budget sanctioned the same for many other cities.”

Halt station for trains

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma elaborated on the proposal sent by the State government to the Centre seeking a halt station for trains at Vytilla. “This will bring the rail network too within reach of the mobility hub. A project has been submitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to complete the pending phases of the hub. Tenders are being finalised for phase two. Many public sector and scheduled banks have come forward to fund the second phase. The Rs.15 crore for the first phase was raised from the Greater Cochin Development Authority and a few other agencies.”

The project is modelled as an eco-friendly one and will also have a green belt within.

Managing Director of Vytilla Mobility Hub Society and former District Collector M. Beena and General Manager of KITCO, consultants for the project, Cyriac Davis, spoke.

Only a few city buses of KSRTC will ply from the terminal till March, when some pending work is expected to be finished. The buses will enter the terminal through the Kaniampuzha Road and will exit through the Vytilla-Tripunithura Road, few hundred metres from Vytilla Junction.

The Hindu

x-post from KN

[DileepKS]

Link to Official Site

A fast growing city like Cochin requires a comprehensive plan to meet the demands and requirements in Traffic and Transport. Proposed Mobility Hub takes a broad systemic approach to the challenges of how to get around in Cochin City, and is especially sensitive not only to pure transport efficiency but equally to matters of sustainable development, pollution and environmental impacts. It offers social, economic and cultural benefits to the State. It is a place of connectivity, where different modes of transit, from walking to metro, come together seamlessly; a place in the urban region where there is an attractive, intensive concentration of employment, living, shopping and enjoyment around a transit interchange; easily accessible for those who begin or end their trip on foot or riding bicycles; a place where the transit rider is treated like a coveted consumer, with choices about how he or she moves around the region; a safe, convenient, attractive place where the city interacts with its transit system.

[DileepKS]

Invitation Card for the Inauguration

[DileepKS]

X-Posting to the appropriate thread

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

The much-awaited Vytilla Mobility Hub, the ambitious integrated transit terminal in Kochi, will be thrown open to the public by the end of April.

Though the project was delayed because of petty issues between KITCO, the project designer and the construction company, it has finally taken off. The hub is believed to be the largest bus terminus in the state of Kerala and the third largest in South India.

“The project will be completed by the end of April, 2011. The delay in the project occurred because of the complication in design. So, it took more time than we planned,” said M. Beena, managing director, Vytilla Mobility Hub Society.

The mobility hub that is well-connected with all the city routes is designed as a converging point for all means of public transport such as long distance buses, the metro rail and water transport.

The construction of the first phase with the terminal for long distance buses and basic amenities started in December 2010.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...ochi-chaos-356

[Malayaali]

Government sanction for Rs.270Cr Bank loan to VMH Society
* Loan for the 2nd phase development
* 2nd phase to cost Rs. 370Cr
* State govt. to provide Rs.100Cr
Manorama

[Malayaali]

New boat terminal at Vytilla Mobility Hub

To converge all forms of public transport at Vytilla Mobility Hub, authorities are planning to set up a boat terminal at the state-of-the-art integrated transit terminal in Kochi.

The terminal may come up on the banks of Kaniyampuzha on the eastern side of the Vytilla hub.

According to the detailed project report, the mobility hub will have three jetties on its eastern side. “The planned terminal is not an expensive affair. Hub work is also progressing at a good pace,’’ said M. Beena, managing director, Vytilla Mobility Hub Society.

She said KSRTC would soon start operations from the hub.

“When fully implemented, the hub will have all facilities to integrate all modes of public transportation, including Metro Rail,’’ she said.

DC Kochi

[Malayaali]

Check the latest updates here. Its coming up nicely

[Malayaali]

1st phase to be completed on May 31st

* The 1st phase of the Vytilla Mobility Hub will be completed on May 31st.
* The city bus services from the new terminal will commence on June 1st.
* Initially only KSRTC buses will be operated from the terminal.
* 13 bus bays are being constructed in the 1st phase.
* Each bay is of 20m length and 13m width and can park 5 buses each.
* Construction of 7000 sq.ft restaurant and pay & use toilet complex is on the final stages.
* Tender works for 2nd phase is progressing and 7 companies have been short listed.
* Rs. 372Cr 2nd phase will see construction of 8 floor 5 lakh sq. ft commercial building including 2 floor underground parking, 3 boat jetty etc.

Manorama

[Malayaali]

Buses to begin service from mobility hub on Wednesday

Work progressing on the bus bays at Vytilla mobility hub.

KOCHI: Select buses operating from Vytilla to Muvattupuzha, Piravom and Vaikom, and the Vytilla-Vytilla low-floor circular services operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation are scheduled to operate service from the Vytilla bus terminal-cum-mobility hub, from Wednesday.

With this, the Rs.15-crore first phase of the inter-modal transportation hub will be over. These buses would ply a total of 114 trips daily and would be joined by more buses in the coming days, said a senior official of KITCO, the project's consultants.

13 bus bays

For this, the agency has readied 13 bus bays in the first phase, each of which can accommodate five buses. The entry to the hub from the Vytilla-Kaniampuzha Road and exit to the Vytilla-Tripunithura Road are getting ready.

Though parking lots for two-wheelers, cars and autorickshaws have not been readied, a portion of the 25-acre compound has been levelled so that long-distance buses which operate from Vytilla can be parked here.

Since the Public Works Department has not raised the road shoulders to the level of the Kaniampuzha Road, KITCO might take the initiative in building a six-metre-wide footpath from Vytilla up to the bus terminal.

“Of the three boat jetties planned, a boat jetty-cum-passenger terminal would soon be readied so that passenger ferries can begin operating from here up to Kakkanad, Tripunithura, Nedumbassery and so on. Though we requested the Railways to build a halt station at Vytilla for trains, there has been little progress,” KITCO sources said.

The work on a toilet complex and cafeteria too is fast progressing.

Phase II after monsoon

Work on phase two will begin after the monsoon season. “We could complete the project's phase one in 170 days, thanks to the cooperation extended by government agencies and organisations like the residents associations,” said Shaju Mathew, general manager of the Nagarjuna Construction Company, the builders.

Despite the expected increase in the number of buses and other vehicles that would call at the bus terminal, the National Highway Authority of India has not been able to begin work on the flyovers proposed years ago at the already-congested Vytilla, Edappally, Palarivattom and Kundannoor junctions. Vytilla will also require a foot overbridge or skywalk for people to cross the ever-busy junction.

The Hindu

[DileepKS]

Mobility hub opens on June 1

KOCHI: Despite the shortcomings, the first phase of the Vyttila Mobility hub will become operational from Wednesday. The KSRTC buses which commence and end their services in Vyttila will be operated from the mobility hub first.

Initially, around 60 schedules will be operated from the hub. “We plan to run 60 schedules from the Vyttila mobility hub from Wednesday,” said P L Jose, Zonal Officer, KSRTC.

As the the facilities are not enough, operating more buses from the bay will be difficult for the time being. “There are plans to shift the operation of all our services to the mobility hub. But it will take a little more time as we have to make alternative arrangements for the passengers to travel to various parts of the city,” Jose said. There are plans to re-divert the buses running between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram via Vyttila bypass. �

The construction of 13 bus bays have been completed. The first phase of the project was completed using Rs 15-crore, said a senior official of KITCO, the project’s consultants. Each of the bus bays can accommodate five buses. The entry to the hub from the Vytilla-Kaniampuzha Road and exit on the Vytilla-Tripunithura Road are almost through.

Once the operations of the mobility hub are in full swing, the regulation of traffic in Vyttila is a major requirement. The authorities haven’t made any arrangements in this regard so far. Though they held some discussions over decongesting the junction, nothing concrete has been done.

There are plans to start ferry services from the mobility hub. But, the authorities are yet to start the procedures for starting boat services. They plan to start boat services to Kakkanad, Tripunithura and Nedumbassery.� Though there were plans to arrange a halt for trains at the hub, the response from the Railway was far from rosy.

According to the authorities, the work of the second phase will begin after the monsoon season.

[KMC]

Originally Posted by DileepKS

Mobility hub opens on June 1

KOCHI: .

What are they going to do with Vyutila junction , nowadays its become normal to have block till powerhouse bustop from Vytila Jn .. Once Hub opens , it will be total chaos at Vytila , the busiest junction in kerala will become the headache for passengers .... what abt edapally once Lulu opens !!!!

I really dont understand what the govt is doing by not constructing flyovers at vytila , kundanoor , palarivattom and edapappy......Just ridiculous ...

its totally bizaare ..... give Kochi the share it deserve ....

Hope they do something...

[DileepKS]

Nothing will happen until the problem becomes unbearable. THEN construction will start, making it worse. The screenplay is as predictable as a hindi movie.

[dpkanu]

Vyttila, one of the busiest junctions in Kochi, will soon get a facelift, with the Road Transport Authority (RTA) planning to do away with three bus stops from the junction and divert all the buses to Vyttila Mobility Hub. The proposal in this regard has been submitted to RTA authorities by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Baby Vinod. The proposal will be discussed at the RTA meeting scheduled for July 2.
RTO P J Thomas said the proposal is to do away with three bus stops, one towards Muvattupuzha, second to Alappuzha side and third on the Kaniampuzha side. The Vyttila-Vyttila circular buses which cross Vyttila by negotiating below Vyttila overbridge will stop only at the mobility hub.
The heavy traffic problems in Vyttila can be solved to a certain extent by diverting all the buses to the mobility hub. The decision is expected to be implemented by July 15.
Taking into account the possibility of traffic problems arising from the demolition of North Overbridge for the metro rail-associated project vehicles from Muvattupuzha side will terminate their services at the mobility hub. This will help reduce the vehicular traffic inside the city as there are sufficient number of Vyttila-city private bus services.
Ever since the much-awaited Vyttila Mobility Hub was inaugurated, it has not been fully operational as the public is yet to utilise the facility. Private buses are not entering the hub as passengers prefer to board buses from Vyttila Junction which often makes the junction congested with vehicles.
KSRTC buses from Muvattupuzha are operating from the hub from where nearly 90 services are being operated daily. There is a proposal for setting up a petrol bunk at the hub.
According to Thomas, some of the long route KSRTC buses too will be diverted through the bypass so that buses can enter the hub without entering the busy Kochi city which is time-consuming.
When the mobility hub is more active, there is a possibility of more commercial establishments coming up around it which will generate more employment.
In the first phase, the construction of 13 bus bays has been completed at the hub with an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The facilities will be fully utilised with the diversion of all buses to the hub.
When the Rs 300-crore project becomes fully operational, all the private and KSRTC buses to various parts of Ernakulam and neighbouring districts will operate from there.
The hub will also have 71 bus bays and space for parking 150 buses, 900 cars and 120 auto rickshaws.

Source : Express Buzz

[Malayaali]

[binaiks]

Pics of Vyttila Mobility Hub, taken last week:




Works are still in progress. The entrance is barricaded, with hardly enough space for one bus to go in. The exit to Tripunithura road is not yet open, I believe.

[Malayaali]

Banks to fund Vyttila Mobility Hub

KOCHI: Giving an impetus to the second phase of Vyttila Mobility Hub, the state government has given its approval to constitute a consortium of banks for mobilisation of funds for the project.
The government is expected to issue the order within a couple of days.
The Vyttila Mobility Hub Society will take measures to float the consortium as soon as the state government issues the order in this regard.
“We organised a presentation on the second phase of the project before the state cabinet a few days ago. After viewing the presentation, the government agreed to the proposal for constituting the consortium,” said M Beena, Managing Director, Vyttila Mobility Hub Society.
Though the LDF government, in the last cabinet meeting, had given in-principle approval for the proposal, the government order was not issued.
Earlier, discussions were held with officials of 14 banks for constituting the consortium.
According to the plan, Union Bank, the lead bank in the district, will lead the consortium. The plan is to raise Rs 114.12 crore as bridge loan and Rs 150.56 crore as term loan from the banks at 9 percent interest and with a moratorium of two years.
The total cost for the project is Rs 376 crore. The authorities will make parallel moves for securing funds from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
If the efforts to include the project in JNNURM succeeds, 50 percent of the fund can be generated through the scheme.
Though the first of the project was inaugurated, the functioning of the terminal is yet to go full swing.
The authorities said shifting of four bus stops in Vyttila is a must for the full-fledged functioning of the hub.
“We have requested the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to shift these bus stops into mobility hub. The issue will be taken up during the RTA meeting scheduled on July 2,” Beena said.

Indian Express

[Malayaali]

More buses set to call at Vytilla mobility hub

The Vytilla mobility hub is set to come alive once again, with buses plying in more routes scheduled to touch the bus terminal here from July 20.

Currently, the hub wears an almost deserted look since only a few KSRTC buses plying from the city to Muvattupuzha call at the terminal. “Initially, we plan to shift three bus stops from Vytilla Junction to the terminal, in order to decongest the junction. The forthcoming Bus Day on July 20 will be observed with the hub as the base,” said the Ernakulam RTO T.J. Thomas.

On the day, buses plying from the city to Tripunithura and back too would call at the bus terminal. Modifications in the traffic flow would be chalked out based on the trial run conducted on Bus Day. If all goes off well, buses to and from Alappuzha too would ply through the terminal. With only phase one of the hub over and the main bus terminal and parking amenities for private vehicles planned only in phase two, the day is still far off when KSRTC and private buses would operate from the hub.

The Rs 15-crore phase one has 65 bus-parking bays, passenger waiting sheds and toilets. Interlocked tiles too were laid between the entry from Kaniampuzha Road and the exit on the Vytilla-Tripunithura Road. The hub for inter-modal (road, waterway, metro and railway) hub is expected to cost Rs 376 crore when the project's final phase is over.

The primary bottleneck for buses to begin service from here is the lack of flyover(s) at the already-congested Vytilla Junction. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to prepare a detailed project report on the flyovers proposed many years ago at Vytilla, Edapally, Palarivattom and Kundanoor. The consultants for the mobility hub project, KITCO had proposed building two flyovers at Vytilla over a year ago, but the NHAI opposed it.

A KITCO official said that the police would have to remove encroachers, illegal autorickshaw stands and vendors from Vytilla, to prevent obstruction to traffic flow when more buses call at the Vytilla terminal. The NHAI would have to build a new underpass beneath the Vytilla railway overbridge, so that vehicles can move in either direction.

Civic agencies would have to widen the narrow entrance of the road that begins from the temple on the Vytilla-Palarivattom Road to the existing underpass.

Though funds had been earmarked in the State budget for a ring road around Vytilla, work has not begun.

The Hindu

[bijuarr]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

More buses set to call at Vytilla mobility hub

Actually from July 20 Kottayam bound buses start and end its services at hub or its a passing through stop from current Kaloor bus stand?

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by bijuarr

Actually from July 20 Kottayam bound buses start and end its services at hub or its a passing through stop from current Kaloor bus stand?

The hub is designed so as to reduce the traffic in the city! So all the long route land-crafts would be landing and taking off from here, AFAIK!

[DileepKS]

There is a lot of inertia, so these things take time. It is being done step-by-step.

First step is to get all the buses into the hub. Then, to route the pass-through buses avoid CBD. It would be the last step to have the buses operate from the terminal