Kochi’s integrated transport system

The Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) will come into effect in Kochi, Kerala’s financial nerve-centre, as an umbrella body to shape and preside over an integrated, seamless urban transport system in the city.

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Key-Points

Kochi is the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. In 2017, when the first phase of the Metro rail was inaugurated in Kochi, the need for a transport authority that can streamline multiple modes of transport with a single command centre was felt.

In fact, a precondition set by the Centre in 2013 for the approval of a rapid transit rail in Kochi was to integrate all public modes of transport and introduce a common ticketing system for the convenience of commuters under the National Urban Mobility Policy.

In November, 2019, the Kerala Assembly passed the Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) bill that cleared the way for metropolitan transport authorities to be formed in three cities in the state – Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi.

The KMTA will be an independent body which will be responsible for operation, maintenance, development and supervision of public transport modes in urban areas in the city.

The body will be chaired by the state’s transport minister with the transport secretary acting as vice-chairperson. It can have a maximum of 15 members.