Meet to deliberate on urban transport policy for Kochi

As a first step to set up the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) in Kochi, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is conducting a workshop in collaboration with CODATU, an international non-profit organisation with the help of Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) on March 26-27 here.

The objective of the workshop is to establish a roadmap specifying the priority actions of the future transport authority and the essential steps for the realisation of a multimodal urban transport policy. The realisation of UMTA requires coordination of actions of the various institutions involved in the implementation of transport services within the Greater Kochi.

This workshop is planned to create a framework for the UMTA to formulate a shared vision by all stakeholders, of the important steps in achieving the urban transport policy in the years to come in Kochi and to identify the roles of different institutions and their implications for the establishment of a network of integrated public transport at the time of commissioning the metro, a KMRL press release said.

"Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), while funding the Kochi Metro Rail project, has also promised to assist KMRL in structuring an effective UMTA for Kochi. This workshop is expected to debate and finalise an action plan for the implementation of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority over the next two years," said Elias George, MD of KMRL.

A three-member team from CODATU will be in Kochi from March 25-27 to extend the idea of a unified transport system in Kochi with common 'command and control' for transport planning and scheduled operation, and for integrating various transportation modes like waterways, private buses, KSRTC, auto-rickshaws, metro rail among others.

Other participants include Cochin Corporation, GCDA, panchayaths in Kochi metropolitan area and the RTO.