Kochi Metro, India’s metro system that was commissioned in just 45 months, turned two this Monday. The metro service run by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has garnered international attention with many first-of-its-kind of initiatives, like installing breastfeeding pod. However, Kochi Metro has not been able to meet its projected ridership, which is, in fact, the core factor required for the viability of any transport system.
As per KMRL data, on an average, about 40,000 people commute by the metro on weekdays and on weekends, the number of average commuters is 45,000. However, this is nowhere near the projected ridership of Kochi Metro, which was estimated at 2.75 lakhs per day.
As per the data from Review of Metro Rail Policy, prepared by Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs in 2017, Kochi Metro had projected this ridership for the 18 km stretch from Aluva to Maharajas College ground. But KMRL has not been able to garner even half of that readership.
KJ Sohan, former mayor of Kochi Corporation tells TNM why achieving this predicted ridership is a near-to-impossible task.
“As per the latest data available, there are only about 6 lakh residents living in the city. How can they then expect 2.7 lakh daily riders, while only 6 lakh people live in the city?” asks Sohan.
With phase one of the metro (from Maharajas College ground to Petta) getting completed, KMRL hopes to harness more riders. Though it is a fact that Kochi metro has drastically cut the travel time for passengers commuting through the traffic blocks in Kochi, many have apprehensions about the pricing and affordability.
“The officials are hoping that when the metro starts running till Tripunithura, it can attract more riders. But a railway service runs parallel to it and not many people will want to buy a ticket that costs at least about Rs 100 when they can get train tickets for Rs 10,” says Sohan.
Whether KMRL will be able to meet its estimated ridership in the coming months will have to be seen. But it is very significant that Kochi Metro increase its revenue for, in the coming years, KMRL will have to start repaying the loans taken from local and international sources.
The unique initiatives of Kochi Metro
Kochi metro has many unique initiatives to its credit, which have made the metro transport system get attention in even international media.
The initiatives, like installing breastfeeding pods for nursing mothers inside stations, was a first of its kind in India. Kochi metro also has the maximum number of women employees starting from train operators.
It is also the first metro station in the country to harness a portion of its required power through the solar panels on the roofs of 13 metro stations. In addition, it has also now commissioned 2.3-megawatt solar farm near its coach maintenance yard in Muttom.
Kochi Metro was also in the news after it employed more than 20 transgender persons. However, the much-celebrated appointments did not last long. Within months, most of them had quit the job owing to various problems, like meagre salary and lack of proper accommodation.