How India moves: Kochi is designing for people, not vehicles
Kochi, a coastal city in Kerala, has emerged as a frontrunner in India’s urban mobility transformation. Through integrated planning that blends metro, water metro, and electrified last-mile solutions, the city is delivering not just mobility but measurable environmental gains. More than a transit intervention, Kochi’s approach underscores how policy-driven infrastructure that prioritises people over vehicles can advance both air quality and climate goals.
Unlike many Indian cities where metro systems remain siloed, Kochi’s transit ecosystem functions as an interconnected network. The Kochi Metro, operationally integrated with the newly launched water metro, city buses, and electric feeder systems like e-autos and minibuses, presents a rare example of multi-modal coordination. The result is reduced reliance on private vehicles and a growing shift towards public transport and non-motorised modes.
According to 2024 ridership reports from Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the system serves over 85,000 passengers daily.
The Centre for Science and Environment’s emissions analysis, using KMRL data, comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) projections, and varying modal shift assumptions, estimates that Kochi’s integrated transit system avoids between 950 to 2,058 kilograms of particulate matter (PM), 12,439 to 14,277 kilograms of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and a staggering 16.4 to 16.7 million kilograms (or 16,446-16,679 metric tons) of carbon dioxide (CO₂) every single day.
A substantial share of these benefits comes from feeder electrification. Traditionally, last-mile connectivity in Indian cities is dominated by diesel-powered autos and cabs. In Kochi, these have been replaced by electric alternatives such as the e-autos operated by Ernakulam Zila Auto Driver Cooperative Society (EZADCS) and 9-metre e-buses managed by KMRL. Without this shift, the city would have approximately emitted an additional 313 kg of PM, 4,500 kg of NOx, and 3,600 tons of CO₂ every day.
Importantly, Kochi’s success is not just technological but institutional. Since 2019, KMRL has functioned as the de facto Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), coordinating fare integration, intelligent transport systems, and interchanges. Though the formal UMTA remains dormant, KMRL’s proactive leadership has streamlined transit planning. Additionally, 55 per cent of Kochi Metro’s electricity consumption is now powered by solar, amplifying carbon savings.
Urban form plays a supporting role. Kochi’s CMP and assessments by ICLEI South Asia affirm that the city’s transport infrastructure is oriented toward moving people—not vehicles. Metro stations are built with safe footpaths, pedestrian access, and cycling provisions, helping facilitate first and last mile travel without inducing new vehicular demand.
Yet, challenges remain. The absence of a legally empowered UMTA continues to limit broader citywide integration across private and parastatal operators. Regulatory coordination for the water metro, private bus sector, and intercity services is still ad hoc. Moreover, the limited scale of non-motorised infrastructure outside the metro corridor constrains full mode shift potential. These gaps underscore the need for a stronger institutional framework, expanded multimodal ticketing, and infrastructure upgrades beyond metro catchments.
What sets Kochi apart is its commitment to long-term, integrated urban mobility rather than short-term air quality solutions. While other cities invest in smog towers and road expansions with marginal impact, Kochi’s structural investments yield compound benefits of emissions reduction, traffic decongestion, improved safety, and modal equity.
As India accelerates toward net-zero and pursues cleaner air under National Clean Air Programme and related programs, Kochi’s story holds national significance. It is a model for how urban mobility, when planned as a cohesive ecosystem, can be a powerful lever for environmental sustainability.
This article is part of our series on how India moves, which looks at the relationship between air quality and human mobility in cities and towns.