Kochi:
Transport Sector has the potential to initiate a transformation in road and mobility behaviors of commuters through various modes of infrastructure initiative, multi-modal connectivity facilities, non-motorized connectivity and tech initiative on new age mobility technologies. Inaugurating, the Gen-Next Transport & Technology Summit 2022 at, Shri Hibi Eden, Hon’ble MP of Ernakulum emphasized that we must take advantage of technology and vast skilled human resources to offer seamless connectivity solutions to our commuters. The summit was organized at Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology, Kochi on 8th October 2022.
“To reduce the load of accident and high vehicular traffic, Kerala is initiating Traffic and Road Safety as part of the course curriculum. This is planned to be introduced from next academic year in plus two level and Kerala would be the first in the country to adopt Traffic and Road Safety as part of syllabus to change the aptitude and attitude of the future road users”, said Shri S. Shreejith, Transport Commissioner and IG, Crime Branch of Kerala offering his Keynote address in the summit. He said special focus of this initiative would be to sensitize the students with actual case studies of negative result of Road Rage and other violations of motor vehicle rule.
Offering his address as Programme Chair of the summit, Shri Loknath Behera, MD, Kochi Metro said that Kochi Metro is committed to offer seamless multi-modal connectivity to commuters of Kochi and bringing best of mobility experience to commuters through Water Metro and last mile connectivity by technological intervention. He said that Kochi Metro is going to introduce paperless ticket system, and this would be initiated shortly giving commuters a hassle-free journey in all formats. He called upon more such synergies among research based academic institutions and mobility industries to come out with innovative solutions to make transportation a hassle-free journey for commuters. He also announced that Kochi Metro has entered the second phase of Data Analytics on passenger movement on Urban Metro. On this occasion MD, Kochi Metro officially declared the KMRL-RSET Research Project – Phase-II of predictive analysis project on passenger turn out on metro routes on various days with Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology.
Speaking on the occasion as Guest of Honour, Shri Nagraju Chakilam, IG –cum–Commissioner of Police, Kochi City, said that integrated approach is the call of the hour from behavioral aspects of commuters and vehicle users while offering them new age transport solutions. As the mobility industry is growing rapidly and there are shifted focus on EV, alternative energy-based vehicles it is imperative to offer a structured ecosystem to the commuters. He said, there should be effort from all corners to make all facilities of transport infrastructure and the solutions must be both structurally and technologically convenient for the commuters. Affordable and pleasurable transport facilities would have positive impact if all stakeholders were involved in planning and implementation stage. He cited his Target Ripple Effect model in solving transportation challenges.
Hailing the facilities of RSET, Fr. Dr. Jose Kuriedath CMI, Director, who was the Guest of Honor the summit highlighted the robust research and development infrastructure the institute offers to major sectors of governance.
Speaking on the potential of multi-dimensional utility of Commuters Card KMRL Axis Bank Kochi1 card, Shri Prashant Sinha, Senior Vice President of Axis Bank – Cards said that this is an innovative solution in the entire country where commuters having access of Metro, Bus and Water Metro rides through only one card. It also introduced a new Kochi Metro app which is simple, convenient and integrated for a commuter.
Earlier, speaking on the inaugural session Fr Jaison Paul Mulerikkal, Vice Principal of RSET highlighted objective of the summit and need of collective thought and deliberation on latest trends in technology in transportation and its futuristic adaptation.
On this occasion senior panelists who deliberated in the summit are Prof. Ashis Verma, TSE & Convener of IST Lab, IISC, Bengaluru, Shri Vipin Menotth, Traffic Manager of Cochin Port, Shri Raman Goyal, AGM, Operation, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Shri Rathish Thomas, DGM, BMRCL, Shri Jatish Chandra Gopinath, DGM, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Shri Devrishi Arora of Evify, Ms. Christy Cherrian Ann, GIZ India, Ms. Sarika Chakravarty of NIUA and Shri Saranayan of Moving. Shri Raghunath Panicker of GoEc Automotive World was recipient of the Best EV Super Charging Aggregator of the Year Award.
The summit also had participation from Cochin Shipyard Limited, Cochin Port Trust, Cochin Smart City Limited, Delhi Metro Corporation, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), IST Lab of IISC, Bengaluru along with electric vehicle manufacturers and charging station leaders like GoEc Automotive, Evify and Moeving. GIZ and WRI also joined the summit as smart and clean mobility planner.
The summit was jointly organized by Kochi Metro with Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with Medilytix Digital Convergence, a digital-tech start-up active in into offering knowledge ecosystem. Axis Bank was the Corporate Partner of the summit.
Biswajit Sahoo, Director and Group Editor of Medilytix felicitated the Guest and Dignitaries who attended the summit. A digital souvenir of the summit was launched at this event. He also offered vote of thanks and congratulated all the speakers, delegates and award winner corporates who participated in the Gen-next Transport & Technology Summit – 2022 powered by Axis Bank.