Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s (KMRL) all-electric urban feeder bus service has completed one year of operations, carrying around 14 lakh passengers and strengthening last-mile connectivity to both the Metro Rail and Water Metro networks, according to reports.

Launched on January 16 last year, the feeder network was introduced to bridge accessibility gaps and improve public transport integration across the city. The service has since expanded to six major routes, operated by a fleet of 15 electric buses supported by seven charging stations and a dedicated depot. The buses collectively cover about 2,300 km daily, totalling nearly seven lakh km annually.

The Aluva–CIAL corridor has emerged as the highest-performing route, while services connecting Medical College and Kadavanthra–Panampilly Nagar have also recorded strong ridership. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Kerala government, with financial assistance from the French agency AFD.

Data-driven operations have played a key role in the service’s performance. Analytics-led service planning and charging optimisation resulted in a 15 per cent increase in both ridership and revenue. KMRL operates an integrated analytics platform that tracks fares, vehicle telematics and charging infrastructure to monitor performance indicators.

The feeder service has also contributed to increased ridership and revenue for both Kochi Metro Rail and Water Metro services. Behavioural change and road safety training programmes for feeder bus crews are currently underway in partnership with the SCMS Institute of Road Safety and Transportation.

Public feedback continues to guide route extensions, timetable adjustments and improved connectivity to underserved areas. KMRL plans to introduce live GTFS-based vehicle tracking to allow commuters to monitor feeder buses in real time, along with in-vehicle passenger information systems and live news updates.