KOCHI: Kochi is all set to witness a boom in the public transportation sector in the coming years with various projects like Metro Rail, construction of new flyovers, the second phase development of Vyttila Mobility Hub and the Water Metro project in the pipeline. With this the scope for setting up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) has also brightened. The Kochi Corporation has already conveyed the necessity of such an authority to the Centre.The primary aim of setting up the UMTA is not only to frame policies on transportation and traffic issues in the city but coordinate between various wings of the government. “At present, several departments execute projects and works relating to transportation and traffic in the city. But there is no coordination among them. The major purpose of the UMTA is to link various departments, including the KSRTC, Kochi Corporation, traffic police, Urban Development Department and the PWD,” Mayor Tony Chammany said.The National Urban Transport Policy set for the cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Mission (JNNURM) also envisages the setting up of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority in million-plus cities. This is one of the conditions for sanctioning buses for urban transport under JNNURM. As per the guidelines, the UMTA will act as the umbrella body that regulates the overall performance of the public transport system and ensures that the city has a comprehensive public transport system. Such bodies would design networks and routes, assess demand, contract services, monitor performance, manage common facilities like bus stations and terminals. They would have representation from all major operators and stakeholders.Making the public transportation system more effective will help reduce the number of private vehicles plying on roads. “The main aim behind introducing AC low-floor and semi-low floor buses under JNNURM is to reduce the number of private vehicles. Effective management of these services will attract more people,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning committee chairman K J Sohan.He said that before setting up the UMTA, the civic body should have a clear vision on the plan and make sure that it is tailored to suit our needs. “There is a need for such an authority in Kochi and it is important to design this institution to best suit our needs,” he said.Regarding the formation of UMTA, Chammany said it was the state government which has to decide on the structure and final proposal. “We have only mooted the idea to set up the transport authority. Already we have conveyed the necessity of such a facility in Kochi to the Chief Minister as well as the Central Government,” he said.Chammany said that it would be the state government that would decide on whether the UMTA should be set up either on the basis of administrative decision as in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai or through a legislative process as in Hyderabad. “It is too early to comment on the structure as the proposal is only in its initial stages,” he added.
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