Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and the District Co-ordination Committee of autorickshaw drivers’ unions on Tuesday inked a historic Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) agreement to integrate 15,000 autorickshaws that operate in Greater-Kochi area with the metro.
It, in effect, brings this many autorickshaws under one umbrella, to provide metro and bus commuters with last-mile connectivity to their final destinations. “A registered society comprising members of six autorickshaw unions will start operations within a month, providing an array of services like feeder, hire, call and rental,” said the metro agency’s MD, A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.
Share auto
He said that 1.50-km/minimum fare for feeder autos would be ₹20 when it operates as share auto. Two commuters can hire an auto, paying ₹10 per head or three can hire it for ₹7 per head. They will also operate as regular autorickshaws. Later on, swipe machines will be installed in them with the help of Axis Bank, following which KMRL’s Kochi-1 pre-paid card could be used for cashless travel in autos too, Mr Hanish said.
Shortly, Kochi metro’s app will enable commuters to hire autorickshaws, like is being done for online taxis.
All this has made Kochi metro the first in India to have a formal pact with autos to enable seamless integration of public transportation modes. Already, 300 drivers have been imparted training in road safety and soft skills. The metro agency had a month ago inked a similar agreement with seven bus companies that operate 1,000 buses in Ernakulam district.
The JDI agreement was signed by Thiruman Archunan, KMRL’s Director (Projects) and M.B. Syamathabhadran, convener, District Co-ordination Committee of autorickshaw drivers’ unions, in the presence of Mr. Hanish.
Mr. Syamathabhadran said that the committee intended to bring more autos in its fold, by including those from outside Greater-Kochi area.
“The relevance of shared-autos is increasing since fuel price is increasing by the day. We have invited Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to inaugurate our society. We have asked our members to suggest a name for it,” he said and thanked KMRL officials for spearheading the initiative.
A KMRL press release said the objective was to support KMRL in implementing ‘Seamless Transportation for Kochi’ by providing feeder services around metro stations and other public transport modes.
“Our aim is to improve operational efficiency of autos, buses, etc., thereby ensuring better working conditions and wages. Commuters too would definitely benefit from this unique step. Once the auto rickshaw society is formed, drivers as well as their families would be provided with skill building, training and other support to engage in home-based businesses to support their income, thereby improving standard of living. KMRL believes that autorickshaws, as intermediate para-transit with their compact size and speed, are best suited to provide last and first mile connectivity to the public transport network in the city.
Simon Edappally (INTUC), Binu Varghese (AITUC), Anilkumar (BMS), Adv Mini (TUCI) and Reghunath Panaveli (STU) also attended the meeting.
