Kochi City Transportation

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by KMC

Its like spoiling all good work done for a few people greed and ego...
If ES is nt there the repurcussions will b severe...both interms of delay ..cost overrunn..its a matter of time i guess cost wud touch 6000 crores just for 25 km stretch..

If its not ES, anyother would simply leave it and mark it as its destiny.... But ES is not a man to lose heart easily and he will definitely fight..... If he didn't fight, Delhi too would have Kolkatta Metro Experience, still tunnelling now.....

I prayer god, to give ES more strength and protect us from those who wishes to plunder us......

[mohammedirshad06]

Signs of development of EKM Junction seen

The first signs of measures to convert the Ernakulam Junction railway station into a world-class facility have begun.

Work is on to expand the concourse of the congested main entrance.

“We’ve already located six telephone booths after demolishing the wall of a room adjacent to the concourse. The information counter will also be relocated in another 10 days so as to ensure that no more overcrowding takes place at the main entrance even during peak hours,” Ernakulam Area Manager P.L. Ashok Kumar said.

Currently during peak hours the queue before the ticket counter extends towards the main course. This, together with the crowd before the information counter often hinders the smooth flow of passengers coming in and out of the platform.

The project is part of the first phase of the plan to raise the station into a world-class one — a promise that’s been pending over three years.

Moves are also on to set up a world-class tourist facilitation centre having modern facilities including a HiFI system.

For this the parcel office, currently located on the Alappuzha side, will be relocated towards the northern part of the station near the vehicle parking area.

Another upcoming project is the setting up of an integrated security system, under which CCTV cameras and luggage scanners will be installed to monitor every nook and corner of the area.

Baggage scanners and automatic ticket vending machines will be set up in the coming days.

[Malayaali]

I wish someone file request to change the name incorporating Kochi. As of now, one of the fastest growing Tier II city hasn't got a RS in it's name.

[vu3nnn]

The ongoing cosmetic changes at Ernakulam Junction is a big waste of money, because the building itself is totally inadequate and obsolete. Just one example: even a 6 foot person cannot enter the station from the platform comfortably and the overhead beams means that the height cannot be increased. In my opinion

1. Close down the main western entry on a temporary basis. Entry shall be from the eastern side, for which a few temporary facilities such as additional ticket counters would have to be set up there
2. Demolish the ramshackle buildings that house the railway quarters and a few offices at the front of the station. The offices and quarters can be shifted elsewhere, on rent
3. Reconstruct the demolished buildings as multi-storied structures. This will make available plenty of space
4. In the new space, construct four additional platforms, making total no. of platforms to ten
5. In the space, also construct a terminal building, complete with a 3 star hotel, mall and multi-storied car park
6. Open up a new access from under the South ROB
7. Rename the station as Kochi Jn

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by vu3nnn

The ongoing cosmetic changes at Ernakulam Junction is a big waste of money, because the building itself is totally inadequate and obsolete. Just one example: even a 6 foot person cannot enter the station from the platform comfortably and the overhead beams means that the height cannot be increased. In my opinion

1. Close down the main western entry on a temporary basis. Entry shall be from the eastern side, for which a few temporary facilities such as additional ticket counters would have to be set up there
2. Demolish the ramshackle buildings that house the railway quarters and a few offices at the front of the station. The offices and quarters can be shifted elsewhere, on rent
3. Reconstruct the demolished buildings as multi-storied structures. This will make available plenty of space
4. In the new space, construct four additional platforms, making total no. of platforms to ten
5. In the space, also construct a terminal building, complete with a 3 star hotel, mall and multi-storied car park
6. Open up a new access from under the South ROB
7. Rename the station as Kochi Jn

As long as EKM junction is under IR, nothing above is going to happen.... It would be sitting under fool's paradise and imagining things, which never gone to happen anyway....

IR has not ready even to take up West Gate, which is more spacious and completed terminal. Half of the traffic congestion in South ROB can be taken off, if West Gate was commissioned....

[vu3nnn]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

As long as EKM junction is under IR, nothing above is going to happen.... It would be sitting under fool's paradise and imagining things, which never gone to happen anyway....

IR has not ready even to take up West Gate, which is more spacious and completed terminal. Half of the traffic congestion in South ROB can be taken off, if West Gate was commissioned....

I am sure you mean Eastern Entry (East Gate) at Manorama Jn side and not West Gate at the Chittoor Road side, which is the main entrance now.


Yes, a majority of the passengers would find the eastern entry more convenient. Even people from the northern parts of CBD such as Pulleppady and Kacheripady would find the eastern entry more convenient once the Saleem Rajan ROB is commissioned.

Now we have busses, tempos and taxis to Sabarimala chocking the western entry beyond redemption. These vehicles have to meander through the congested Chittoor Road and South ROB. Simply shifting these vehicles to the eastern entry would allow these pilgrims to save a minimal of 30 minutes,
and also decongest South ROB greatly.

Yet IR has just a single ticket counter there, that too not round the clock, and what is more no enquiry counter, leave alone any other facility.

[Prasanth_KCV]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/12121...ief-passengers

New boat to Fort Kochi brings relief to passengers


Kochi: A brand new boat with a seating capacity for 75 was introduced in the Ernakulam-Fort Kochi-Vypeen sector from Sunday, bringing partial relief to hundreds of passengers who were forced to wait long hours due to inadequate boat services.

For nearly a month, the authorities were forced to withdraw at least two boats, one of them failing to successfully undergo a fitness test and lying idle at the berth. This had, ineffect, resulted in heavy rush, with commuters being made to wait for nearly an hour during peak hours.

“The new steel boat would solve our problems to some extend but it’s only a 75-seater whereas boats with capacity over 100 people are needed to meet the demand. We expect heavy rush in the coming days with the start of the Biennale, Christmas and the New Year,” Joseph Xavier, superintendent, Kerala State Water Transport Department, said.

Meanwhile, two of the boats – S 88 and S 28, are berthed idle at the boat jetty. This coupled with withdrawal of the circular boat last week had made the travel in the Ernakulam-Fort Kochi a difficult task. “We don’t have sufficient qualified mechanical staff here for everyday routine check-up, not to say about repairing,” a Controlling Inspector said.

“The worst hit was regular passengers. There used to be ferries every 15 minutes during peak hours, which is not the case now. Often, there is a delay of over 30 minutes and by this time, there would be a huge line up of people awaiting the ferry,” S Padmanabha Mallya, Secretary, PaschimaKochi Passengers Association, said

[Malayaali]

Direct train between Ekm & Nilambur

The railways is planning to introduce a new direct train between Ernakulam and Nilambur by clubbing the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train and the Shoranur-Nilambur passenger train.

At the Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee meeting held at Shoranur recently, the divisional railway authorities have decided to recommend a new train to the Southern Railway authorities. The details of the new train is likely to be included in the revised time table to be announced by the Southern Railway soon.

There is a long pending demand for a second train from Nilambur to southern districts of the state, after the launching of Rajyarani Express connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Nilambur. At present the Shoranur-Nilambur passenger train leaves Shoranur at 12pm and reaches Nilambur at 1.50pm. The train starts its return journey from Nilambur at 2.30pm and reaches Shoranur at 4.15pm. After this the same train runs as Shoranur-Ernakulam passenger. The passenger train leaves Shoranur at 5pm and reaches Ernakulam at 8pm. The return journey starts at 7.30am the next day and reaches Shoranur at 11am.

Now the Palakkad divisional authority has recommended running the passenger train as a direct train from Ernakulam to Nilambur, without halting at Shoranur. At present the passengers are not getting the benefit of the direct train as the train halts at Shoranur for daily maintenance works.

The recommendation put forth is to carry out maintenance work of the train at Ernakulam. Slots are available at the maintenance shed there, as special sheds were opened recently at Palakkad and Kollam for the MEMU trains.

The representative of Nilambur Rail action council Dr Biju Ninan said the move to introduce direct train from Nilambur to Ernakulam would also help the railways as there would be a gap in time schedule for running goods trains between Angadippuram and Shoranur.

At the consultative committee meeting the officials also informed that the railways would complete the electrification works between Shoranur and Mangalore by 2014. The doubling works in Shoranur-Karakkad line would begin soon. The division is planning to run MEMUs in Palakkad-Shoranur-Coimbatore-Thrissur route.

[thanseem]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Direct train between Ekm & Nilambur

who told the railway/KSRTC/Electricity minister and Nilambur MLA Aryadan Mohammed is a clown??

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by thanseem

who told the railway/KSRTC/Electricity minister and Nilambur MLA Aryadan Mohammed is a clown??

What is the role of Aryadan Mohammed in this? The suggestion was put forward by the DRUCC and has been taken over by the Division. What did Aryadan do here?

[thanseem]

Originally Posted by binaiks

What is the role of Aryadan Mohammed in this? The suggestion was put forward by the DRUCC and has been taken over by the Division. What did Aryadan do here?

u missed the sarcasm..

[Malayaali]

And what was the sarcasm for?

[DileepKS]

I got a call from the PIO of KSRTC. He said they are going to respond to the RTI with more info, and if I am not still satisfied, they will offer another round of resolution.

Nice. Now waiting for the response.

On other news. Another PIL is filed at the Hon HC yesterday.

Court issues notice to State, KSRTC

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday issued notice to the State government and KSRTC on a writ petition seeking a directive not to operate buses allotted under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme for Kochi to destinations outside the city limits.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M.Shaffique ordered notice when a writ petition field by Jose Christepher Xaviour and others came up for hearing.

The petition filed by another petitioner, K. P. Pradeep, was pending before the High court.

The petitioners contended that operation of the AC and non-AC low-floor buses beyond the city limit was against the guidelines of JNNURM schemes.

Kudos to the real activists from the Armchair.

[DileepKS]

Update on the PIL on JNNURM

Operate buses only in city, says court

The Kerala High Court on Thursday orally observed that the government could not operate buses allotted to Kochi under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme to destinations outside the city limits.

Justice P.N. Ravindran made the observation when a writ petition filed against the operation of buses allotted under the scheme outside the city and district came up for hearing.

The court orally opined that as per the scheme, the buses should be operated only in urban areas.

The court also asked the Advocate General to explain the government’s stand on the issue. The case was posted on December 14 for hearing.

The petition was filed by High Court lawyer K.P. Pradeep.

According to him plying of buses beyond the city limits was against the guidelines of JNNURM schemes. The guidelines had stipulated that the fund allotted under the scheme could only be utilised for improving the transport facilities of urban areas. The scheme had envisaged forming a special purpose vehicle or a public body for implementing the scheme. However, the buses bought under the scheme were entrusted with the KSRTC for operation. The petitioner said passengers in the city who were reeling under inadequate transportation facilities were hardest hit by the decision of the authorities.

Shortage of buses

There is an acute shortage of buses in the city as less than half of the 70 Tirukochi buses allotted to Kochi are in operation.

Even the almost 100 buses promised two years ago by the KSRTC remains a pipe dream. The inordinate delay in repairing the agency’s low-floor buses has added to the woes of commuters.

The Tirukochi and low-floor buses were launched over two years ago to augment public transport in the city. The 100 additional Tirukochi buses were promised in view of the increasing demand for buses from commuters. A few of the buses were planned to be used for operating night services.

Lack of manpower and diversion of many buses to Sabarimala were the reasons given by KSRTC officials for the shortage of Tirukochi buses. KSRTC zonal officer Chandra Babu said over 80 buses from Ernakulam zone had been diverted to Sabarimala.

“The shortage of buses in Kochi will continue till the Sabarimala season is over.”

Crew members who were employed on a temporary basis and others who were on the RTC’s rolls have been abstaining from work. The KSRTC is unable to make fresh appointments as the striking workers have not submitted their resignation letters.

“There is a delay in making appointments to a few vacancies, though the rank list is ready,” said KSRTC Assistant Transport Officer George Thomas. With dozens of fast passenger and superfast buses diverted to Sabarimala, the bus service in inter-district routes is also inadequate. Lack of sufficient buses has led to heated exchanges between commuters and bus crew in different places, including at the RTC’s Ernakulam stand and Vyttila Mobility Hub.

Indefinite strike

“KSRTC buses have also ended the monopoly of private bus services in the city. Till recently, private bus owners and crew feared to go on strikes since they knew that passengers would turn to KSRTC city services,” said Venu T.P., district secretary of the KSRTC Employees’ Association (CITU). Private bus workers unions have threatened to launch yet another indefinite stir from December 29, demanding wage hike.

[Malayaali]

Feasibility study started for Kochi-Madurai Railway line

കൊച്ചി-മധുര റെയിൽപ്പാത: സാധ്യതാ പഠനം തുടങ്ങി

കാക്കനാട്: കൊച്ചി-മധുര റെയിൽപ്പാത സാധ്യതാ പഠനത്തിനുള്ള കണക്കെടുപ്പ് ജില്ലയിൽ ആരംഭിച്ചു. റെയിൽപ്പാത കടന്നുപോകുന്ന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിലെ വിവരശേഖരണമാണ് നടത്തുന്നത്. ട്രാക്ക് കടന്നുപോകുന്ന വഴിയിലെ ജനവാസ കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളുടെ എണ്ണവും ഈ ഭാഗത്തുള്ള പ്രധാന റോഡ് ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ളവയുടെ ഉപയോഗത്തെപ്പറ്റിയുള്ള വിവരങ്ങളുമാണ് ശേഖരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇതു സംബന്ധിച്ചുള്ള നിർദ്ദേശം പഞ്ചായത്തുകൾക്കും വിവിധ സബ് ആർടിഒ ഓഫീസുകൾക്കും നൽകിക്കഴിഞ്ഞു.

ബോഡിനായ്ക്കന്നൂർ മുതൽ തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ വരെയാണ് പുതിയ ലൈൻ വിഭാവനം ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഉടുമ്പൻ ചോല, ചിന്നാർ, പനക്കുട്ടി, നേര്യമംഗലം, തട്ടേക്കാട്, നെല്ലിമറ്റം, മൂവാറ്റുപുഴ, കോലഞ്ചേരി, വെണ്ണിക്കുളം, തിരുവാങ്കുളം, തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ റൂട്ടാണ് പ്രാഥമിക പഠനത്തിൽ ഉള്ളത്.

[vu3nnn]

Originally Posted by thanseem

who told the railway/KSRTC/Electricity minister and Nilambur MLA Aryadan Mohammed is a clown??

The real clowns are the people, as this train is already in existence... only it is shown as two different trains in the time table, and this will now be changed to reflect the actual situation.

[Malayaali]

Passenger boat fares likely to be increased

Passenger boats berthed at the Ernakulam boat jetty.

[COLOR="rgb(105, 105, 105)"]NATPAC study to be ready by January end; fares fixed in 2001 not revised[/COLOR]

Ferry passengers in Kerala may soon have to pay more to travel, as the government plans to make the services economically feasible.

The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) had done a study on the feasibility of these services which operate mainly in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam. The agency will hand over a report to the State government by the end of January.

Ferry fares fixed in 2001 have not been revised during the past 11 years, with the result that the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) is unable to augment its fleet and the quality of service.

NATPAC has for the past few years been assessing the operational expenses of buses, autos and taxi cars in Kerala, based on which the fares were frequently revised.

The government dithered on revising ferry fares for fear of electoral setbacks, despite most passengers and their associations expressing their willingness to pay more for prompt and quality services.

A senior NATPAC official associated with the study said that operational expenses of ferries is about 10 times the ticket fare and hence the government wants to re-examine the fares.

Faster transport

Ferry passengers pay very low fares – for example Rs 2.50 to travel from Kochi city to Fort Kochi.

The bus fare in the route is over Rs 14. Apart from the low fares, ferries reach the destination faster than buses (less than 20 minutes by ferry, as compared to over an hour by bus), since they take a diagonal route.

The study will also bring to the fore problems like low fuel efficiency, their relatively slow speed, slack maintenance and the inherent weaknesses in the SWTD’s administration.

The director of SWTD, Shaji B. Nair said that NATPAC officials travelled in the agency’s boats in different routes and collected data for their study.

“Based on the data base, they will hold discussions with us. We are willing to operate more ferries in keeping with the demand, if the government permits us to recruit more employees,” he said.

[mohammedirshad06]

Manorama's new campaign for Waterway connectivity

[Malayaali]

Start-up’s tech solution to boost footfall on Kochi’s public transport

How about earning credit points for using public transport that besides promoting green initiatives makes one’s travel and shopping cheaper!

If everything falls in place, this will be a reality from January for lakhs of commuters using public transport daily.

“CityonWheelz”, a concept developed by a Kakkanad-based start-up information technology firm, has found support from all quarters. The concept has a larger goal of addressing issues like energy conservation, waste management and much more through the introduction of a smart card to which points will get credited for every green initiative promoted by the user. The user can redeem the points during shopping and travelling.

Hibi Eden, MLA, said while the project was laudable in theory, its success depends on the cooperation from the district administration, corporation and the passengers at the implementation stage. “The youngsters should be appreciated for the thought process itself. I have pledged all support to the project and has promised to be present at its launch next month,” he said.

The pilot project promoting public transport system to reduce traffic congestion and carbon footprint and to save fuel marks the first phase of the project. The introduction of the pilot project in the city entails three systems named WheelzPass, mWheelz and WheelzPool.

Under the WheelzPass, travel passes will be issued to commuters who can use it instead of money for using public transport. Passes will be issued at discounted rates — higher the denomination, higher the discount. Based on the usage of public transport, points will get credited to their WheelzGreen card.

Plans are also afoot to facilitate recharging of the card by setting up outlets in working class-centric points like near the civil station and the high court.

Initially, paper passes will be issued. “We plan to introduce a swiping technology shortly for which an additional module will be added to the existing ticket vending machines used in private buses. Once this is done, the conductor just needs to swipe the card in the machine and the ticket fare will be automatically debited from the account,” said Nithin P.R, founder CEO of Technovia Info Solutions Private Limited, which has introduced the concept.

The introduction of mWheelz, a mobile or web-based application, means that passengers can search buses operating in and around the city thus enabling them to time their travel accordingly.

Mayor Tony Chammany said while the corporation was positive about the project, he was yet to study the nitty-gritty of the project.

M.B. Satyan, district secretary of the Private Bus Operators’ Association, welcomed the project. “It will put an end to constant arguments between passengers and bus employees over ‘change.’ The passengers will be benefitted as they can also know the timing of bus services through their mobiles,” he said.

WheelzPool will be a mobile or web-based application facilitating pooling of vehicles among those belonging to the same residential area, company, or have similar office hours at least once or twice in a week. People can also use it for organising joint pleasure trips as well. Again, participants will get points credited to their WheelzGreen card.

[Malayaali]

Kalamassery gets new transport plan

KOCHI: The integrated transport plan, being prepared by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac), has proposed to develop and improve road-rail connectivity at Kalamassery.

The proposal, including both short and long-term plans, will be submitted to the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd (RBDCK) soon.

The report will focus on integrating roads, railways and the Vallarpadam container terminal as Kalamassery does not have much scope for water transport system, according to NATPAC.

The proposal has also sought to develop interchange points for various modes of transport in the area. The agency conducted a month-long survey in various parts of the municipality. Natpac sources said that after they submit the proposal, RBDCK would be agency that would implement them.

According to sources, a detailed project report has to be prepared for the efficient implementation of the proposal. The integrated transport plan has been prepared on the direction of the public works department (PWD) minister V K Ebrahim Kunju.