Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has stopped operating mini-feeder buses that were deployed three years ago to provide last mile connectivity to commuters of the City Water Bus, the boat service operated by the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) from Vytilla to Kakkanad. So far, the KMRL operated the 28-seater tempo traveler from Chittettukara boat jetty to Infopark and Civil Station, a major reason behind the City Water Bus enjoying decent commuter patronage. According to sources, the feeder service was stopped from July 20 since KMRL was incurring additional expenditure of nearly Rs one lakh per year as operational expenses alone.
“We have stopped the feeder service due to budgetary reasons. However, we are mulling two options to help commuters in the segment – one is to charge commuters a nominal rate so as to cover the operating expense and the other is to use autorickshaw feeder services in the route,” said a senior metro official. The stopping of the feeder service had its ripple effect on the City Water Service too with the number of commuters travelling by it suddenly witnessing a sharp fall. “Earlier the peak hour services (7 am, 8 am and 9.20 am from Vytilla were full and in the return direction, the trips at 4 pm, 5.20 pm and 6.20 pm) recorded an average 60 commuters. But it has now been cut down to half,” said a crew member of the boat.
“Our school is located a further two kms from the Chittettukara jetty and now we are forced to walk the distance. The autoricksaws too are exploiting the situation by hiking fares. Now they charge Rs 40 instead of the earlier Rs 20,” said Alida Santosh, a student of Rajagiri who stays at Aroor. She used to get down at Vytilla and take the boat to go to her school. The travel through the boat takes only 20 minutes instead of the over one hour travel by buses in the peak hours. Commuters can also enjoy a noise and pollution free ride.
