Kochi Public Transport Day observed at St. Teresa’s College with the staff and students pledging to promote public transport.

January 14, 2019, Monday: The January edition of Kochi Public Transport Day (KPTD) initiated by city-based think tank Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) was held on Monday, January 14, 2019 at St. Teresa’s College, Kochi. The students and the staff members of the College observed the day by promising to switch from their private vehicles. The event was organized by the Department of Economics, St. Teresa’s College in association with KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Limited) and CPPR.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Sr. Vinitha CSST, Director, St Teresa’s College. She described the problems of using private transportation and advised the students to move towards public transport. The Senior DGM of KMRL and former joint RTO, Mr. Adarsh Kumar Nair delivered the keynote address. “In Kerala, every three people own and use one vehicle and the number of vehicles are increasing exponentially”, said Mr. Nair and urged the students to work together to make the city more sustainable.

The Chairman of CPPR, Dr. D. Dhanuraj briefed on some important facts about the city’s public transportation system and explained the benefits of moving towards creating an efficient network of public transportation.  “We want to make a habitable city, whose backbone is an effective and affordable public transport” he said. He encouraged everyone to become a part of the larger movement by identifying the issues in public transportation and be a part of the campaign. 

The students of the department then took a pledge to create awareness among the general public on the benefits of public transport and promised to use them as a primary mode of travel.

Dr. Sajimol Augustine M, Principal of the College and Dr. Thushara George, Head of the Department of Economics, also addressed the audience during the formal function.