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Commuters in Kerala may soon have a cheaper and more convenient way to travel, as the state is planning to introduce shared autorickshaw services. The State Transport Authority (STA) is expected to approve a pilot project, which will begin in Kochi. If approved, Kochi will join cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Lucknow, where share autos are already operating successfully.
Kerala's Autorickshaw Services
Under the proposed system, autorickshaws will be allowed to carry multiple passengers travelling in the same direction. Instead of operating as contract carriages, they will receive stage carriage permits, allowing passengers to share the ride and pay separate fares. The move will require changes to state rules under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Officials said the service will mainly operate on designated feeder routes where public transport is limited. These routes will connect residential areas and office hubs with nearby bus stops and metro stations, helping solve last-mile connectivity problems. Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) will decide important details such as vehicle type, fare structure, colour code, and operating routes after the policy is approved.
The government has said fares will be kept affordable while ensuring that drivers can also earn a reasonable income. The proposal gained support after Kochi resident Jijimon Abraham urged authorities to improve the city's transport system. He said fixed-route share autos would reduce travel costs and encourage more people to use public transport instead of private vehicles.
The idea is also based on the recommendations of the Justice M. Ramachandran Fare Revision Committee, which had suggested reserving 25% of autorickshaw permits for shared services.
A recent survey by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) found that more than half of commuters in Aluva struggle due to poor last-mile transport, while 71% depend on private vehicles. Nearly three-fourths of those surveyed said they would readily switch to shared transport if it became available.
Under the proposed plan, shared autos will operate within a 6-10 km radius on approved feeder routes. They will have fixed pick-up and drop-off points to avoid traffic congestion and roadside hailing, making daily travel easier, more organised and affordable for commuters.