Medical college route little served by public transport

Government Medical College, Ernakulam, continues to remain poorly served by public transport even five years after the government took over the institution in 2013.

The situation is such that people are forced to depend on taxi or autorickshaw to reach the hospital. Moreover, there are allegations of autorickshaw drivers fleecing those hiring the vehicles to the medical college from HMT Junction. The demand is no less than ₹100 for a to-and-fro trip. Adding to people’s woes, even the KSRTC has not commenced services on the route via medical college.

Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer Regi P. Varghese told The Hindu that a number of routes connecting the medical college could be utilised. They include Perumbavoor - Ernakulam (South) route; Perumbavoor - Kakkanad; Perumbavur - Paravur; Aluva - Kakkanad; Aluva - Thripunithura; Muvattupuzha - Kalamassery, and Muvattupuzha - Paravur route.

Furthermore, applications are yet to come from private buses operators.

A number of educational institutions, including the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), are located near HMT Junction.

Though a bus terminal was inaugurated with much fanfare at Kalamassery five months ago, it has remained unutilised. Kalamassery municipal chairperson Jessy Peter told The Hindu that water connection to the terminal had been delayed.

According to Ms. Peter, the approach road to the terminal has to be strengthened as slabs covering the underground heavy cables are of poor quality. The municipal council on Thursday decided to open pay-and-use bathrooms at the terminal with the help of a Kudumbasree unit.