Kochi gets green light for new KSRTC bus terminal after two decades

The Public Works department has received technical sanction to build the first phase of a new KSRTC bus terminal at Karikkamury near Kochi, clearing the way for construction tenders in early September.

The ₹13-crore opening phase will feature a single-storey structure with dedicated bus bays, though the design includes provisions for vertical expansion later. Construction is expected to take approximately one year once the work is awarded, according to a senior KSRTC official.

Two-decade wait for waterlogging solution

The project addresses a problem spanning over twenty years, as the current bus terminal remains prone to waterlogging. Heavy rains continue to pose a flooding threat despite efforts earlier this year to raise the ground level and renovate the terminal complex.

The new facility, to be built on 2.90 acres of KSRTC-owned land, will not accommodate private buses, a departure from the original integrated terminal proposal.

Structural concerns and land optimization

Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, while welcoming the technical sanction, emphasized the need for professional execution with special attention to preventing waterlogging and ensuring structural stability. He cited a cautionary example: a garage constructed on the premises using ₹2 crore from his MLA fund developed cracks before inauguration and required demolition.

Eden also called for optimal use of the existing bus terminal land, suggesting the old structure could be replaced if necessary.

Years of planning hurdles

The project faced repeated delays due to an initial proposal to swap part of the Karikkamury land for equivalent space at the Vyttila Mobility Hub. KSRTC rejected this, arguing the hub's slushy land would require prohibitively expensive construction. Disagreements over the integrated terminal concept, which would have mixed KSRTC and private buses, further stalled progress. A separate attempt to secure ₹12 crore from Cochin Smart Mission Limited also failed to materialize.

Source: The Hindu