The Kochi metro authorities have expressed great enthusiasm over the future of the rapid mass transport system in the city after carrying 1.30 lakh passengers between December 31 and the early hours of New Year Day.
A release from Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) said the metro carried 32,35,027 passengers in December 2024, setting a record. Passenger ticket sales earned ₹10.15 crore compared to December 2023 when the earnings stood at ₹9.24 crore, and the number of passengers was 29,59,685.
Since July 2024, the metro service has seen more than a lakh passengers per day. It also recorded operational profit in the last two years. The operational profit during 2023 stood at ₹5.35 crore. It went up to ₹22.94 crore during 2024, said the release.
KMRL is now striving to take the number of daily passengers to 1.5 lakh in 2025. The service had targeted one lakh passengers per day last year. The achievements in meeting the target have come through combined efforts, said Loknath Behera, managing director, KMRL.
The rationalisation of ticket fares, concession extended to students, publicity achieved through social media, and timely service have earned the metro a good name, while cleanliness and pleasant behaviour of employees have won a great passenger base for it.
Mr. Behera said that the Kochi metro uses digitisation on a large scale for ticketing, and during 2025, the entire operation is expected to be digitised. It is expected that digitisation will help draw the young generation to the metro, he added.
The Kochi metro hopes to launch 15 electric buses to provide last-mile connectivity and increase the number of passengers.
Meanwhile, the Kochi Water Metro has recorded a passenger movement of 35 lakh. Studies have been done on launching similar water metros services in 18 places across India taking a cue from the success of the Kochi Water Metro. KMRL is in the process of launching preliminary works for the project, the release added.
The routes include Ahmedabad-Sabarmati, Surat, Mangalampuram, Ayodhya, Dhubri, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kollam, Kolkata, Patna, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mumbai, Vasay, Lakshadweep, and Andamans.
Mr. Behera also said that Ernakulam and Mattancherry Water Metro terminals would be completed this year. Orders will be placed for 15 more boats for the service. Work on the Water Metro service to Infopark is progressing fast.
Published – January 01, 2025 09:10 pm IST
