- Survey conducted by NIT-C gauged the reaction to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd's (KMRL) new AC feeder buses
- The survey reported high acceptance of the service from the women commuters
- Findings indicate that 51% of commuters on the circular feeder bus routes consist of women
The National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C) survey revealed that the AC feeder buses launched by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) have gained popularity among women commuters.
As per the survey findings published by KMRL on Monday, 51 percent of daily commuters on circular feeder bus routes are women. The survey also found that as many as half of the recurring commuters are women, the average age of which is 37.
The report added that this number is higher than the national average of 20–30 percent women commuters on comparable services.
KMRL said that the air-conditioned electric feeder buses, which connect the Water Metro, Metro rail, railway stations, shopping malls, and hospitals, offer a safer mode of travel for women.
Working professionals between 25 and 47 years of age constitute the largest commuter category, followed by students, business executives, homemakers, and seniors. Working professionals constitute the majority of women passengers.
Frequency data on usage indicates that 12.6 percent of respondents use the service once a week, 17.5 percent uses the service occasionally, and 15.4 percent were first-time users at the time of survey.
An average of over 4,600 passengers ride on the feeder buses daily, which have routes like Aluva–Airport, Kalamassery–Medical College, Kakkanad–Infopark, and High Court–MG Road.
The MG Road circular route, introduced in March, has an average daily ridership of 818. The feeder service has been utilized by 1, 34,317 passengers since its introduction.
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