Key Takeaways
- KMRL introduces new unlimited travel tickets and reduces rates for existing passes, effective October 24.
- Three, fifteen, and forty-five-day unlimited travel tickets are offered at subsidized rates.
- Reduced prices for single-day, weekend, seven-day, and thirty-day passes, addressing affordability concerns, especially for students.
- KMRL’s move aims to enhance affordability based on feedback, providing more accessible metro travel options.
Kerala, India–Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) announced the introduction of new passes and subsidized rates effective October 24.
The government agency responsible for the operations of the metro system in India’s southwestern coastal city of Kochi, or Cochin (the KMRL), will now offer three new types of unlimited travel tickets:
- Three days – ₹280 ($3.4)
- Fifteen days – ₹1,150 ($13.9)
- Forty-five days – ₹3,250 ($39.3)
The KMRL, in light of the festive season of Deepawali, or Diwali, is offering “rationalized” rates of existing passes. They are mentioned on the website as follows:
- Single-day pass (students) – ₹50 ($0.6)
- Single-day pass – ₹125 ($1.5)
- Weekend pass – ₹230 ($2.8)
- Seven-day pass (students) – ₹550 ($6.7)
- Thirty-day pass – ₹900 ($10.9)
- Thirty-day – ₹2,200 ($26.7)
According to a report, the previous pricing for student passes was criticized for being unaffordable for students, with more than 60% of the sample confirming the case in a survey conducted at a local college.
Larsen & Toubro Ltd., an Indian multinational company, handled the metro construction project in Kochi. Some of their other noteworthy projects in the country include metro rail projects in major Indian cities (New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, etc.), Bangalore International Airport, major expressways across India, and others.
What We Think
The move by Kochi Metro Rail Limited to introduce new passes and rationalized rates demonstrates a proactive step toward making metro travel more accessible and affordable for the public, especially during the festive season.
Addressing concerns about student pass affordability through these revisions aligns with creating inclusive public transportation systems, catering to diverse commuter needs. This approach fosters increased accessibility and encourages greater usage of the metro, benefitting both commuters and the city’s transportation infrastructure.
