Like any other rapidly growing Indian city, improving connectivity is a major challenge faced by Kochi. Even though the city has the potential to develop an integrated transport system comprising of different transit modes, the ground situation is that in many parts of the city, commuters brave mobility issues on a daily basis. An example is the situation in Kakkanad. Despite being a major industrial and residential region and administrative headquarters of Ernakulam district, the area with a population of 25,531 lacks seamless connectivity.

In order to ease the situation, a ferry service was introduced on November 22, 2013 in the Vyttila-Kakkanad route. This was the first public water transportation project in India to be funded by the Central government. But the absence of feeder system or means of first and last mile connectivity led to the decline in the number of ferry commuters. The problem is that the Kakkanad boat terminal is situated to the East of Chitrapuzha Bridge on the Seaport-Airport road. The ferry commuters have to walk a distance of about 400 meters from the boat terminal to the nearest bus stop.

It was at this juncture that CPPR took the initiative to study the connectivity problems with Kakkanad boat terminal. Our study report ‘Analysis of connectivity from Kakkanad boat terminal’ explored options to improve connectivity and convenience of the ferry passengers. We were able to propose suggestions towards increasing ridership of the ferry services.

Our proposal to shift the existing boat jetty to a location proximal to the Seaport-Airport road, west of the Chitrapuzha Bridge and adjacent to the existing barge of the Inland Water Authority (IWA), was widely accepted by all the stakeholders. The stakeholders visited the existing Kakkanad boat terminal and the IWA land with the CPPR team.

It was observed that the existing Kakkanad boat terminal and the connecting road were flooded during the monsoon season, but the IWA land and its adjoining areas remained unaffected. It was clear that an immediate construction of walkway for pedestrian access should be explored within or adjacent to the existing IWA land. CPPR was requested to develop a proposal for the walkway.

CPPR proposal discusses two alternatives for the walkway with cost computations for each. This proposal has been submitted to the district administration and local government representatives.

Click here to read the full Report: PROPOSAL FOR A WALKWAY AT KAKKANAD BOAT TERMINAL

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Deepthi Susan Ponodath was Managing Associate of the CPPR Centre for Urban Studies.

Deepthi Susan Ponodath
Deepthi Susan Ponodath
Deepthi Susan Ponodath was Managing Associate of the CPPR Centre for Urban Studies.

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