New bus terminal to be built in Karikkamuri

An integrated bus terminal will be built at the site of the old KSRTC garage in Karikkamuri. This follows the demolition of the garage and administrative block, which had safety issues even before it opened. The new terminal will serve both KSRTC and private buses. It will have separate bus bays for each type of service, similar to the Vyttila Mobility Hub. The Cochin Smart Mission Limited has allocated ₹12 crore for the first phase of construction, which will be managed by the Kerala State Construction Corporation. The terminal will include six bus bays for KSRTC, an office for the station master, and facilities for bus staff. Unlike private buses, KSRTC buses will not pay a fee to enter the terminal. A senior KSRTC official believes the terminal will improve access between the bus station, Ernakulam Junction railway station, and the Kochi metro's Ernakulam South station. This project aims to enhance connections between different forms of transport. There was also a plan for a 2.5-km 'green corridor' to link the two railway stations. This corridor would have made it easier for pedestrians, cyclists, and battery-operated vehicles to travel in the area. However, that project has not yet been completed. Along with the bus terminal, there will be a ₹50 lakh project to raise the ground level of the bus stand, which often floods during rains. The KSRTC is still deciding whether to dismantle the old building that serves as the bus stand and waiting area, where a commercial complex was proposed.