Transport Minister flags off first batch of buses from Goshree islands to Kochi city

Transport Minister flags off private and KSRTC buses from Goshree islands to Kochi city, improving public transportation.

The first batch of four private buses from the Goshree islands to Kochi city were officially flagged off at Goshree Junction by Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar on Thursday, 20 years after the commissioning of the trio of Goshree bridges.

Over 100 private buses that operated from the islands to the city used to hitherto terminate their trips at High Court Junction till recently. The Minister also flagged off 10 additional KSRTC bus services linking different locales in the isles with the city. He said a total of 25 more KSRTC bus services would be introduced in the corridor, depending on the patronage for the 10 services.

The KSRTC would shortly introduce a fleet of modern buses across Kerala — including to rural areas — as part of efforts to make the agency an efficient and profit-making one. A total of 503 routes, which have inadequate public transport, have been identified for the purpose, Mr. Ganesh Kumar said. He added that the newly launched double-decker bus service in Munnar had made a collection of ₹13.14 lakh within a month.

The newly flagged-off buses would operate to Vyttila, Kakkanad, Government Medical College, Thripunithura, and Fort Kochi.

Presiding over the function, K.N. Unnikrishnan, MLA, said the city entry of private buses could be realised due to efforts made by him, socio-political leaders, and the Federation of Residents’ Associations’ Apex Council in Goshree Islands (FRAG). FRAG general secretary Anil Plavians,  Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council president Rangadasa Prabhu, and panchayat presidents from the region were present.

FRAG, in the meantime, submitted a memorandum to the Minister, seeking more KSRTC and private buses from the isles to the city at night, and a bus depot at Njarakkal.

The four private buses from the Goshree islands to which the Ernakulam Regional Transport Authority (RTA) had granted permits earlier this year, began operating to Vyttila and Kakkanad. The RTA is in the process of vetting five more applications submitted by private bus operators from the isles. These buses too will likely be issued permits at the impending meeting of the authority, to operate beyond High Court Junction, it is learnt.