KOCHI: Vyttila, one of the busiest junctions in Kochi, will soon get a facelift, with the Road Transport Authority (RTA) planning to do away with three bus stops from the junction and divert all the buses to Vyttila Mobility Hub. The proposal in this regard has been submitted to RTA authorities by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Baby Vinod. The proposal will be discussed at the RTA meeting scheduled for July 2.RTO P J Thomas said the proposal is to do away with three bus stops, one towards Muvattupuzha, second to Alappuzha side and third on the Kaniampuzha side. The Vyttila-Vyttila circular buses which cross Vyttila by negotiating below Vyttila overbridge will stop only at the mobility hub.The heavy traffic problems in Vyttila can be solved to a certain extent by diverting all the buses to the mobility hub. The decision is expected to be implemented by July 15.Taking into account the possibility of traffic problems arising from the demolition of North Overbridge for the metro rail-associated project vehicles from Muvattupuzha side will terminate their services at the mobility hub. This will help reduce the vehicular traffic inside the city as there are sufficient number of Vyttila-city private bus services.Ever since the much-awaited Vyttila Mobility Hub was inaugurated, it has not been fully operational as the public is yet to utilise the facility. Private buses are not entering the hub as passengers prefer to board buses from Vyttila Junction which often makes the junction congested with vehicles.KSRTC buses from Muvattupuzha are operating from the hub from where nearly 90 services are being operated daily. There is a proposal for setting up a petrol bunk at the hub.According to Thomas, some of the long route KSRTC buses too will be diverted through the bypass so that buses can enter the hub without entering the busy Kochi city which is time-consuming. When the mobility hub is more active, there is a possibility of more commercial establishments coming up around it which will generate more employment.In the first phase, the construction of 13 bus bays has been completed at the hub with an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The facilities will be fully utilised with the diversion of all buses to the hub.When the Rs 300-crore project becomes fully operational, all the private and KSRTC buses to various parts of Ernakulam and neighbouring districts will operate from there. The hub will also have 71 bus bays and space for parking 150 buses, 900 cars and 120 auto rickshaws.
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