KOCHI: While the authorities are coming up with big development programmes for the Vyttila Mobility Hub, they seem to be paying least attention to the major needs of the commuters. Commuters who arrive at the hub during the night find it difficult to get connecting buses to the city, as city buses terminate their services by 10.30 pm. The only other option for the commuters is to depend on prepaid autos that cost more. More connecting buses and circular bus services are needed at the mobility hub. Earlier, long distance buses used to ply through the city and the commuters could alight wherever they wanted after eight pm which helped them reach their destination faster. But now as the long-distance buses do not enter the city and stop at the hub, the commuters are finding it hard to get connecting buses to the city. “We had to wait for about 20 minutes to get a bus to the city. More bus services to the city from the hub will help solve our travelling woes,” said M J Joseph a commuter from Kaloor. “The connectivity between the city and mobility hub is not up to the mark. Now I take a longer time to reach my office in the morning as the services are not sufficient to meet the rush during peak hours at the hub,” said a commuter. “Even services from the city to the hub must be improved,” said another commuter Rejith R from Nettoor. Another problem is the short number of bus services to the outskirts of the city. Commuters to the outskirts depend on the long-distance buses that pass via their places. “There are no night service permits for private buses as of now in the state, only a 17-hour permit - from 5.30 am to 10.30 pm. The extension of permit will cost labour problems,” said district private bus workers union president K Babu. The mobility hub authorities said they would hold a meeting with the RTO on the issue based on the complaints received.The decision regarding the 24-hour operations of the Mobility Hub at Vyttila has evoked mixed response from the commuters and officials. The officials are of the opinion that the parking facilities at the hub are sufficient enough to accommodate the increased number of buses coming to the hub. However, both the private bus operators and KSRTC officials are confused about its implementation.Confusion prevails among the passengers and bus drivers about the new developments. Most of them are of the opinion that there should be more long service buses. Passengers from distant places should have an easy access to the main hub. A KSRTC official said: “The decisions regarding the 24-hour service through mobility hub have not been confirmed by the KSRTC Managing Director. We can implement it only after getting his approval.” Alex, secretary of the Private Bus Association said: “One of the problems is that there is no proper delegation of bus routes. Most of the buses running through the city start plying from the Mobility hub. However certain buses through Aluva are not permitted to enter the hub.”
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