Kochi is on the brink of a significant public transport transformation as the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) pushes forward with its ambitious integrated bus terminal project in Karikkamury. A vital topographic survey has just been completed on the 1.90 acres of land, strategically located adjacent to the existing bus stand, paving the way for a modern facility designed to accommodate both KSRTC and private bus services.
Sources indicate that the final design, projected to cost approximately ₹12 crore, is expected to be unveiled shortly. “Following a key meeting chaired by Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, aimed at laying the groundwork for this proposed complex, the topographic survey report was submitted to the KSRTC head office merely a week ago,” an official stated.
The detailed plans, including the precise number of bus bays, are anticipated to receive final approval soon, with construction slated to commence within the next six months.
This state-of-the-art bus terminal will be developed on a portion of the extensive eight-acre plot owned by KSRTC in the heart of the city, conveniently less than a kilometer from MG Road. The KSRTC has opted to self-finance the project, after an initial plan to secure ₹12 crore from Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) did not materialize.
Notably, this development follows the recent finalization of designs for new KSRTC bus stands across four other towns in Kerala’s southern districts, highlighting a broader push for infrastructure modernization.
The need to revamp the agency’s current, often waterlogged and poorly maintained bus stand has been a pressing issue for over two decades. The project’s immediate plans include raising the ground level of the existing premises and constructing a robust compound wall to prevent flooding from the adjacent canal. Preliminary work on drainage systems is already underway.
Local Advocacy Fuels Progress
Organizations like the Ernakulam Vikasana Samity, a prominent NGO, have been vocal advocates for the renovation and efficient utilization of KSRTC’s extensive landholding. K.S. Dileep Kumar, the Samity’s president, underscored the daily difficulties faced by thousands due to the dilapidated state of the current bus stand.
“Despite repeated assurances from successive governments, tangible progress at the ground level has been minimal. KSRTC and government decision-makers should look to the dozens of modern bus stands successfully constructed in neighboring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for inspiration,” he urged.
However, the recent finalization of designs for four new terminals in other Kerala towns offers a renewed sense of optimism, signaling a potential turning point for urban transport infrastructure in the region.