Kerala will soon get an open mobility network which interconnects all the existing mobile applications for transportation in the state, allowing passengers to book ferries to the metro to buses to even rent bicycles. The open mobility network will also help you find parking spots, find EV charging stations, and expand to the hospitality and healthcare sectors.
The project will be implemented by the Bengaluru-based Becken Foundation.
According to reports, the company has chosen Kochi city to launch the project since the city has all modes of transportation—road, air, metro and water metro. Initially, the ‘Yatri’ app designed for taxi drivers will be used for this, but Yatri will soon become just another app in the network, as more and more apps like Kochi One and OSA will be integrated into the network.
According to Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority, it is the world’s first open and inclusive mobility network of its kind.
“Here, instead of competing, the different modes of transport cooperate to strengthen the public transport network and bring palpable changes in the lives of daily commuters. The project is being spearheaded by Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority, the first authority of its kind in India to integrate, plan and regulate different commuting modes, established through the KMTA Act approved by the State Legislative Assembly,” Adarsh Kumar, nodal officer of KMTA, has been quoted as saying on the ‘Open Kochi’ website.
Besides Becken Foundation, KMTA will also receive support from Juspay Technologies, National Securities Depository Limited and WRI India.
The formal launch of the Yatri App has been scheduled for July 23 by Minister for Transport Antony Raju. Reports said over 1,000 cab drivers have already attached with the new app.