Keralam government issues technical sanction for first phase of KSRTC bus terminal at Karikkamury in Kochi

The Keralam government has granted technical sanction to the Public Works Department (PWD) for the first phase of the proposed KSRTC bus terminal at Karikkamury, near the existing bus stand. This ₹13-crore project is expected to lead to the issuance of tenders for its construction in early September, according to an official associated with the initiative.

The initial phase of the complex will be single-story, incorporating dedicated bus bays, with provisions allocated for future vertical expansion. Once awarded, the project is anticipated to be completed in about a year, as stated by a senior KSRTC official. The demand for a new bus terminal has been ongoing for over two decades, as the present terminal premises frequently suffer from waterlogging, particularly during heavy rainfall.

Although the ground was elevated and the terminal complex renovated recently, the issue remains pertinent. Contrary to the original plan for an integrated terminal on KSRTC-owned land at Karikkamury, private buses will not be permitted at the proposed terminal, which will span 2.90 acres. Welcoming the technical sanction, MP Hibi Eden expressed hope for a swift and professional commissioning of the first phase, emphasizing the need to address waterlogging and structural stability concerns.

Eden also suggested optimizing the use of existing bus terminal premises, potentially by replacing the outdated structure with a new one using funds from an MLA. Delays in initiating the project have been attributed to initial plans to exchange a portion of KSRTC’s land at Karikkamury for land at the Vyttila Mobility Hub, which the KSRTC deemed unsuitable due to its unstable nature.

Disagreements also arose over the concept of an integrated terminal, where both KSRTC and private buses would coexist, as well as a proposal to secure ₹12 crore from Cochin Smart Mission Limited, which ultimately failed.