KOCHI: Forty-three per cent of Kochiites regularly use public transport. This is in addition to the 20 per cent of the population who occasionally used public transport for commuting, says a study on public transport conducted from May 24 to 30 by the Kochi-based Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR).The respondents were in the age group of 15-70, the section that needs a transport system. It was also found that a significant 30 percent of the population in Kochi switched over to public transport after the recent petrol price hike.The study assumes significance in the light of the Kochi Bus Day which is observed once in three months. The increase in petrol prices and excessive traffic are reasons why people in Kochi are opting for public transport.However, it was found that 42 per cent of the people were not satisfied with the public transportation system. Issues like time taken to commute, congestion, lack of frequency and connectivity, and irregular services are considered to be the main reasons why the public prefer private vehicles.On the mode of commutation, it was found that while 43 percent always use public transport, 20 percent drive their own vehicles and also use public transportation occasionally. Seventeen percent use private vehicles for personal needs and six percent drive their own vehicles all the time. About 14 percent of citizens take auto-rickshaws. On an average, 655 cars and 1,137 motorcycles have been registered in the city every month. The survey also exposes the imminent need to improve the public transportation system in Kochi in order to attract more people. While there were many people who were interested in taking the public transport, the study revealed that 60 percent of the respondents avoided taking public transport due to the time taken to commute and congestion. By increasing the frequency of buses, the number of people opting for public transport will increase, minimising the presence of private vehicles and congestion. This also highlights the need for a route rationalisation study to ensure better connectivity and seamless traffic flow in Kochi.Bus Day is a good starting point to improve the public transportation system of the city. The study reveals that the public is keen to use public transport which could translate to less fuel consumption, less pollution and more revenue to the exchequer.
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