The State Transport Minister, Mr Jose Thettayil, flagged off the newly inducted double-decker of the KSRTC from the Vytilla bus terminal-cum-mobility hub, which was commissioned here on Saturday.

The first phase of the Rs 376 crore bus terminal-cum-mobility hub will have the facility to park 35 buses at the seven bays, and was constructed at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

Once it becomes a full-fledged terminal-cum-hub for inter-modal (road, metro-rail, railways and waterways) transport by March, 2013, up to 2,000 buses are expected to use the terminal each hour. There will also be space to park private vehicles, taxis, and autorickshaws. Eateries and public comfort stations will also be set up.

Traffic congestion

The State Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, through video conferencing, said the terminal would help reduce the traffic congestion in the city to a great extent.

He pointed out that there would be a phenomenal increase in the number of vehicles plying in the city with the commissioning of the Vallarpadam terminal and various IT projects that are in the pipeline in the city.

The State Fisheries Minister, Mr S. Sarma, said the Rs 15 crore for the first phase was raised from Greater Cochin Development Authority and other agencies. For the second phase, many public sector and scheduled banks extended financial assistance to fund the project. Tenders are being finalised for the Phase II.

Kochi metro-rail

Delivering the keynote address, the Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs, Prof K.V. Thomas, said the Kochi metro-rail project would be a reality in a few years time. The State and Central Governments must work together to push the project forward, he said.

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