The establishment of a multicrore mobility hub in Alappuzha has been set in motion with the State government recently according administrative sanction for the project.
The government has decided to set up the mobility hub at a cost of ₹493.06 crore in order to facilitate comfortable and seamless travel and make Alappuzha a better tourist destination.
It has appointed Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) as Special Purpose Vehicle for executing the project. The project will be financed through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
Officials said INKEL would now submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and related documents to KIIFB for appraisal and consideration for funding. They hope to commence the work soon.
The project components include development of a bus terminal along with construction of a multilevel car parking facility and commercial space, development of a boat terminal and repairing facilities for the Irrigation Department and State Water Transport Department (SWTD), and construction of the SWTD directorate.
Although the original plan included two more components - construction of office and residential space for the Fire and Rescue Services Department and bridges - they were removed from the project. The Fire and Rescue Services Department has decided not to be a part of the project and the proposed bridge across Commercial Canal has been taken up by the Public Works Department.
The hub will provide convergence of various transport systems. The project will materialise with the cooperation of the KSRTC, water transport authority, among others. Officials said that at least 12 acres of land in the possession of various government departments including the SWTD and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) would be utilised for the mobility hub.
The proposed bus terminal will have a capacity to park 26 buses at a time. The parking facility will hold 200 cars. A large exhibition centre will be constructed on the first floor.