Kerala High Court
Adv Richard Rajesh Kumar vs Union Of India on 12 August, 2025
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. NITIN JAMDAR
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
TUESDAY, THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025 / 21ST SRAVANA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 10082 OF 2025
PETITIONER/S:
1 ADV RICHARD RAJESH KUMAR
AGED 27 YEARS
PADAMADAN HOUSE, CHERAI PO., ERNAKULAM, PIN -
683514
2 ARJUN P BHASKAR
AGED 26 YEARS
ANGEL'S GARDEN, COMAPANYPADI ROAD, NEAR
POICKATTUSERY LP SCHOOL, CHENGAMANAD PO.,
NEDUMBASSERY, KOCHI, PIN - 683578
BY ADVS.
SHRI.VISWANATH SALISH
SMT.SANDRA PAUL
SMT.NIDHA SHERIN
SHRI.AKASH JITTHU T.
RESPONDENT/S:
1 UNION OF INDIA
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING
AND URBAN AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, ROOM
NO.308, C WING, NIRMAN BHAVAN, MOULANA AZAD ROAD,
NEW DELHI, PIN - 110011
2 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT,
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
3 THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR,
SECRETARIAT ANNEX-I, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN -
695001
4 THE PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR
PRINCIPAL DIRECTORATE, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT, SWARAJ BHAVAN, 5TH FLOOR, NANTHANKOD
KAWADIAR PO., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003
5 KOCHI METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
8TH FLOOR, REVENUE TOWER, PARK AVE, MARINE DRIVE,
ERNAKULAM - 682 011. ADDL. R5 IS IMPLEADED AS PER
ORDER DATED 17/03/2025 IN WP(C) 10082/2025.
6 ADDL.R6.THE SECRETARY,
TRASPORT (E) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM [ADDL.R6 IS SUO MOTU IMPLEADED
AS PER ORDER DATED 30/05/25 IN WP(C)
BY ADVS.
SHRI.C.DINESH, CGC
SHRI. ARJUN
SHRI.V.MANU, SPL.G.P. TO A.G.
SHRI. V. TEKCHAND, SR. GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 12.08.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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JUDGMENT
Dated this the 12th day of August, 2025
Nitin Jamdar, C. J.
Six years ago, in 2019, the Kerala State Legislature found it
expedient to provide for the constitution of the Metropolitan
Transport Authority for the development of urban transport in the
Urban Mobility Areas of the State of Kerala. Yet, till date, the
Metropolitan Transport Authority for Kochi City remains only on
paper. This petition seeks to address this concern.
2. The Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority Act, 2019 (Act of
2019) was notified on 18 December 2019. Under Section 3 of the Act
of 2019, the State Government empowered to establish Metropolitan
Transport Authority for each Urban Mobility Area. Section 2(n), read
with Section 11 of the Act of 2019, declares Urban Mobility Area as
the Municipal Corporation limits of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and
Kozhikode and further provides that any other area can be declared as
an Urban Mobility Area.
3. The Transport Authority constituted under Section 3 of the Act of
2019 is a body corporate having perpetual succession, power to enter
into contracts and to acquire, hold and dispose of both immovable and
movable properties. The composition of the Metropolitan Authority is
provided under Section 3(3) of the Act of 2019. The Authority is
headed by the Minister for Transport as the Chairperson. The Secretary
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to the State Government, Transport Department, is the Vice-
Chairperson of the Authority.
4. The composition of the Authority is drawn from diverse fields,
including people’s representatives of the Legislative Assembly,
Municipal Corporation, Transport Commissioner, District Collectors,
representatives of Police, Town Planning and four experts from the
fields of Transportation Engineering, Urban Transport Planning,
Urban Transport Operations, Corporate Governance, Finance, or Law.
The Metropolitan Transport Authority has to meet at least once in
three months. The Authority can constitute sub-committees where any
expert whose assistance is advised can be referred to such a committee
for enquiry. The Metropolitan Transport Authority can also appoint an
expert or committee of experts and refer to such committee any subject
arising under the Act of 2019. A Chief Executive Officer is appointed
for the Authority.
5. Section 12 of the Act of 2019 provides for the duties, functions
and powers of the Metropolitan Transport Authority. Under Section
12(1)(a), the Authority has to prepare a Comprehensive Mobility Plan.
Comprehensive Mobility Plan as defined in Section 2(f) means the plan
document as mentioned in Section 13, that outlines the mobility plan
for the Urban Mobility Area and in synchronization with the plan
under the Kerala Town and Country Planning Act, 2016 for such
Urban Mobility Area and delineates, inter alia, strategies and, actions
for achieving the objectives for ensuring optimum mobility of people
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and transportation of goods in such Urban Mobility Area and to
provide for safe, sustainable and efficient and properly co-ordinated
urban transport. Such a plan has to be made for a period of five years.
The Metropolitan Transport Authority is also vested with various other
functions, as listed in Section 12(1), which include the following:-
“(b) Preparation of a Transport Investment Programme;
(c) Planning for finance mobilization, construction and
operation relating to the urban transport and the Urban
Transport Ancillary Services;
(d) Promotion, development and regulation of integrated
facility and systems tor urban transport including seamless
transport access;
(e) Development, construction, operation and management
of any integrated or stand-alone transport network facility
that aid and enhance the efficiency of the urban transport to
the user;
(f) Creation and management of a Common Command and
Control Centre for integration, co-ordination and
management of urban transport;
(g) Development, publication and issuance of standards and
guidelines relating to the development and operation of
urban transport facilities;
(h) Development and dissemination of performance
indicators for urban transport Services within the territorial
jurisdiction of the Authority;
(i) Regulation and enforcement of technical and performance
standards on all strategic and operational matters that have a
direct effect on the level of service provided to the users of
urban transport;
(j) To give direction to the authorities concerned to take
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necessary steps for the regulation and enforcement of
environmental standards related of incidental to the Urban
Transport or the urban transport Ancillary Services;
(k) Administration of the Urban Transport Fund as provided
in Chapter V of this Act;
(l) Setting up and operation of an operation control centre, a
web based user information system and a helpline to provide
integrated information to the users of urban transport and to
collect demands, complaints and suggestions of passengers;
(m) Setting up and operation of a smart card based ticketing
system for payment of user charges for use of the urban
transport and Urban Transport Ancillary Services in
consultation with the authorities concerned;
(n) Setting up and operation of technology-based solutions
for traffic management, transport planning, design of
transport systems and selection of mode of transport in
consultation with the authorities concerned;
(o) Detection and reporting of traffic offences to the
authorities concerned and to recommend for action with the
help of Intelligent Transport System to be established by the
Authority;
(p) Collection of information on urban transportation within
Urban Mobility Area and to provide the same to the
Government agencies concerned or other agencies approved
by the Authority;
(q) Publication and display of information for the users of
urban transport to promote consumer awareness on the
integrated urban transport System;
(r) Promoting skill advancement of the persons engaged in
the operation and maintenance of urban transport through
education, training and research;
(s) Make recommendations to the railways, on railway
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services, schedules and time table to enhance the efficiency or
service levels of the urban transport.”
***
The survey of the functions as enumerated above would show the
importance of the Authority in finding solutions and developing a
comprehensive urban transport system.
6. The Government of Kerala, by notification issued in the Official
Gazette on 30 October 2020, constituted the Kochi Metropolitan
Transport Authority (KMTA) for the Urban Mobility Area of Kochi
City.
7. The Petitioners have asserted, which is not controverted, that even
though the notification came into effect from 1 November 2020, the
KMTA remains non-functional. It has not convened any meetings at
all, though Section 9 of the Act of 2019 mandates at least one meeting
every three months. The Petitioners made representations highlighting
that KMTA has virtually become defunct which were forwarded to the
Chief Secretary for necessary action. The Petitioners approached the
Grievance Redressal System. The Petitioners also made representations
through the Chief Minister’s Public Grievance Redressal website which
did not get any response. Therefore, the Petitioners have approached
this Court by way of the present petition filed on 12 March 2025 for a
direction to make the KMTA functional. Pertinently, notice issued to
Respondent No. 5-KMTA in this Petition as per its address given in
the notification was returned with a remark that there is no such entity,
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confirming the assertion of the Petitioners that the KMTA is defunct.
8. The Act of 2019 is enacted specifically for the very purpose of
development of urban transport by creating a specialized authority for
promoting sustainable urban transport. For systematic approach to the
issue of public transport, Section 13 of the Act of 2019 mandates the
Transport Authority to prepare a comprehensive Mobility Plan in
accordance with the National Urban Transportation Policy guidelines
and the plan shall include the following:-
(i) infrastructure facilities and other works;
(ii) various modes of public transport systems and Mass
Rapid Transit Systems and their integration;
(iii) procedures and process to resolve any issues in relation
to any existing transport system or transport services being
operated and in relation to any new systems or services;
(iv) such other matters as may be necessary for the
development and implementation of such plans in order to
achieve the object and purpose of the Act of 2019.
***
Under Section 13(2) of the Act of 2019, the draft plan has to be
published on the official website of the Metropolitan Transport
Authority, inviting objections and suggestions before such date as may
be specified, in the manner prescribed by rules and the fact of such
publication shall be published in the Official Gazette by the Authority.
The Authority, shall after giving adequate opportunity of being heard
to the persons concerned and after considering the suggestions,
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objections and representations, if any, if not, after recording the reasons
for the same, modify the draft plan, if necessary. Section 13(3) states
that the plan so prepared shall be submitted to the State Government
for approval and the State Government may either approve such plan
without modifications or with such modifications as it may consider
necessary or reject the plan with directions to the Authority to prepare
a new plan based on recommendations issued by the State Government
in relation thereof. The State Government shall, as far as possible,
within three months take decision in these matters. Under Section
13(4), all plans approved by the State Government shall be published
on the official website of the Authority and the Authority shall publish
the fact of such publication in the Official Gazette.
9. Under Section 14 of the Act of 2019, the Metropolitan Transport
Authority has the power to implement a Comprehensive Mobility Plan
and to formulate schemes. Under Section 14(2), the Authority may
formulate a draft scheme, and recommend to the Government for
considering along with the scheme made under Chapter VI of the
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 or otherwise for integrating road transport
services with the approved Comprehensive Mobility Plan, giving all
relevant particulars of the nature of the services proposed to be
rendered in the urban mobility area specified along with the area or
route proposed to be covered.
10. Schedule I to the Act of 2019 provides for urban transport which
is defined under Section 2(o) of the Act. Urban transport is defined as
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different modes of transportation available to the general public in the
Urban Mobility Areas as delineated in Schedule I. As per Schedule I of
the Act of 2019, urban transport consists of different modes of
transport in an Urban Mobility Area that are available for use by all
persons who pay the established fare and which are operated on fixed
routes and with fixed schedules within the Urban Mobility Area, which
include buses, tramways, metro railway, electric trolley bus, cable car,
bus rapid transit system, light rail transit, inter-city railways, boats,
water metro and any other mode irrespective of its fuel or propulsion
type including private vehicles which meet the requirements of mass
transportation. Schedule II to the Act of 2019 details the urban
transport ancillary services, as defined under Section 2(p) meaning all
ancillary services required for effectively operationalising and
maintaining a modern integrated urban transport system and include
the elements delineated in Schedule II, subject to the provisions of this
Act.
11. Chapter V of the Act of 2019 deals with the Urban Transport
Fund. As per Section 18(2), the Fund of the Authority is constituted
from the grants, advances and loans sanctioned and funds received
through allocations, including budgetary allocations, by the Central
Government or the State Government to the respective Authority, the
fine imposed and realised and compounding fee collected under the
Act of 2019, compounding fee collected by departments concerned, in
cases of traffic violations detected through Intelligent Transport System
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and reported by the Authority and fees and user charges available to
the Authority under Section 16. Any user fees or charges, prescribed by
rules, to collect from the Urban Mobility Area under this Act, are to be
deposited under the Fund.
12. Thus, the Urban Transport Fund which is important for the
functioning of the Authority, includes even fines realised and
compounding fees collected. The amount which is to be placed in the
Fund has to be expended in the manner as prescribed under the rules.
The Fund has to be administered by the Chief Executive Officer. As
regards the Urban Transport Fund, in the counter affidavit, there is no
reference whatsoever.
13. The Urban Transportation Fund under Section 19 of the Act of
2019 includes grants and loans from the Government. Under Section
25 of the Act of 2019, the accounts of the Authority are subject to
audit by the Accountant General of the State. The Authority has to
prepare every year a report of its activities and the report has to be
placed before the State Legislature as per Section 26 of the Act of 2019.
The Authority also has to submit audited annual statements. Under
Section 44 of the Act of 2019, the State Government is empowered to
make rules for the purpose of carrying out the functioning of the Act.
14. The above-mentioned scheme of the Act of 2019 shows the
importance of a developing urban transport in the State. The
Government of Kerala has issued a notification constituting the KMTA
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for Kochi City. Yet this Legislative intent of establishing planned and
sustainable urban transport in Kochi is being nullified by keeping this
authority KMTA only on paper for the last more than five years. The
Petitioners have placed on record that various difficulties are faced by a
large number of commuters using public transport in the city of Kochi.
The infrastructure of the city remains underdeveloped which has
caused difficulties in respect of parking, systematic transportation and
connectivity. Several infrastructural issues which require a scientific
and planned approach towards urban transportation are not being
implemented because a specialized authority for the same is not
functional. KMTA is empowered under the Act of 2019 to regulate
fares of urban transport which is not being carried out.
15. The issues pointed out by the Petitioners require a specialised
body to find solutions. There cannot be any doubt that considering the
functions of the Authority, it is essential in any city, such as Kochi, to
have a robust public transportation system to have a functional and
active Metropolitan Transport Authority. Since its inception, the
KMTA has remained defunct, and neither a Comprehensive Mobility
Plan nor a Transport Investment Program has been prepared, as
envisaged under the Act of 2019. No meetings of the Authority have
been conducted, the Urban Transport Fund has not been set up, and
the annual reports have not been placed before the Legislature.
Therefore, we had directed the Respondents to file their counter
affidavit.
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16. In the counter affidavit, the Special Secretary to the Transport
Department has stated that the Kochi Metropolitan Transport
Authority was constituted on 30 October 2020 with the Minister of
Transport, other ex officio members, and expert members. It is stated
that the Authority started functioning on 1 November 2020 with its
Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer requested the
Government for the appointment of staff on 17 November 2020 and
two staff members of the Kochi Metro Rail Limited were deputed for
handling urban transport on a contract basis. Whether the functioning
of the KMTA can be sustained with two staff members on a contract
basis is not explained. Then, it is stated that the Government has
released an amount of ₹17,40,000/- for meeting the expenditure.
Nothing is stated whether this would be adequate. In fact, the proposal
for 2025-2026 shows that the requirement is at least 5 Crores. It is also
stated that the fund released on 15 August 2023 could not be utilized
for various reasons, including non-joining of the contract staff. To this
affidavit, a plan proposal for 2025-2026 is now annexed in which,
nothing is stated regarding who prepared it or whether it has been
officially submitted, except that it is under consideration of the
Government.
17. Considering this situation, we had directed the matter to be taken
up by the Secretary of the Transport Department on a priority basis
and a meeting was held on 15 July 2025 to rejuvenate the KMTA. The
minutes of the meeting held are on record which reads as under:-
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“MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 15.07.2025
REGARDING STEPS TO REJUVENATE THE
FUNCTIONS OF KOCHI METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
The meeting started at 12.00 noon with Special Secretary,
Transport Department in the chair. (List of participants is
attached).
Special Secretary Transport Department welcomed the
participants. The Chief Executive Officer, Kochi
Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) briefed about
the current scenario of functioning of KMTA.
The CEO, KMTA explained that the office of KMTA is not
functioning due to non-availability of staff. Earlier there was
an office with two temporary urban planners. However, the
staffs left due to non-payment of salary and subsequently, the
office was closed. He added that a plan proposal was
submitted to Government in this regard for appointing staffs
for the smooth functioning of the authority.
The Special Secretary pointed out that there was an allocation
of Rs. 3 Crore (Rupees Three Crore Only) under the h/a
“5075-60-800-63 Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority”
in the financial year 2024-25 and the same was not utilized.
He added that non submission of plan proposal in the
required time for the financial year 2025-26 has ultimately
led to placing of token provision of Rs. 1 lakh in the said
head. In this scenario, the Special Secretary suggested CEO,
KMTA to present a proposal with the minimum
requirements, enabling the functioning of KMTA.
The CEO, KMTA has informed that an office space of about
1000 square feet is required for the office of KMTA. Two
Urban Transport Planners and two office staff preferably at
the level of Section Officer and an MBA holder is necessary
for the functioning of the Authority. Office equipments
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including computers, furniture, panelling of office space etc.
and a website is also required for KMTA. The Managing
Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) reiterated the
importance of rejuvenating the functions of KMTA. He
informed that after obtaining the approval of the Authority,
KMRL has been authorised for the preparation of the
Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) & Alternative Analysis
Report (AAR)/Feasibility Study Report (FSR) for
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode districts from
the budget provision of Kochi Metropolitan Transport
Authority (KMTA).
The Special Secretary, Transport Department, enquired
whether office space will be available near the Cochin Smart
Mission Limited (CSML) office as it would be more
convenient to the CEo, KMTA. MD KMRL informed that
no more space is available in the said premise but would be
available in Changampuzha Park Station or JLN Metro
Station, Kaloor. The Special Secretary has directed CEO,
KMTA for finding suitable office space after discussion with
KMRL officials.
The Special Secretary, Transport Department requested MD,
KMRL to fix the rent considering the present financial
situation and MD, KMRL agreed to provide office space for
KMTA in a subsidised rate.
The Special Secretary Transport Department directed CEO,
KMTA to furnish a proposal to Govt. with the minimum
requirements to enable the functioning of KMTA as detailed
below.
1. The detailed estimate for posting Two Urban Transport
Planners and two office staff preferably at the level of Section
Officer and an MBA holder for the functioning of the
Authority.
2. The detailed estimate for Office equipments including
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computers, furniture, panelling of office space etc.
3. Proposal for developing a website for KMTA along with
detailed estimate
4. Suitable office space after discussion with KMRL officials
The Special Secretary, Transport Department added that the
proposal for rejuvenating the functions of KMTA with
minimum requirements may be approved, subject to the
concurrence of the Finance Dept. The funds required for the
purpose will be taken up with Finance Department for
additionally authorizing the same in the h/a “5075-60-800-
63 Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority” in the financial
year 2025-26. Further Special Secretary directed CEO,
KMTA to furnish the proposal with in a week’s time and to
file an affidavit before the Hon’ble High Court as per the
Order dated 27.06.2025, at the earliest.
The meeting ended by 12.30 p.m.
Decision
The CEO, KMTA was directed to:
1. Find a suitable office space after discussion with KMRL
officials.
2. Submit a proposal including minimum staff required,
office equipments and creating a website for KMTA.
3. File an affidavit before the Hon. High Court as per the
Order dated 27.06.2025
List of ParticipantsSl. Name Designation
No.
1 Sri. Nagaraju Chakilam IPS Transport Commissioner
2 Sri. Shaji V. Nair IAS CEO, KMTA
3 Sri. Loknath Behera IPS (Retd.) MD, KMRL
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4 Smt. Sheela M. Additional Secretary,
Transport Department
5 Sri. Gokul T. G. Additional General Manager
(Urban Transport), KMRL”
***
Thus, even as of 15 July 2025, the position in KMTA is that an
amount of ₹17,40,000/- could not be utilized, and the contract staff
had not joined. The KMTA has no dedicated office space, no funds, no
staff, no furniture computers, etc. This is indeed a sorry state of affairs
of an authority whose functions are to provide the residents of Kochi
city a planned and systematic public transport.
18. The benefits of effective functioning of the Metropolitan
Transport Authority for Kochi city cannot be understated. The
interventions by this Authority could be reduction in traffic congestion
and carbon emissions, better integration of bus, metro, ferry and
pedestrian systems, rationalisation of public transport fares and
services, uniform fares for public transport, streamlined parking
policies and increased access to last-mile connectivity, enhanced
liveability and accessibility for residents and tourists, economic growth
via infrastructure investment and urban renewal. A properly
functioning Authority for the Kochi City can make an effective change
in the urban transport as envisaged by the Kerala Legislature. By
creating a Metropolitan Transport Authority for Kochi City but letting
it remain on paper, the object of providing a sustainable and planned
urban transport system for the residents of Kochi City is being
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nullified.
19. We propose to set up a timeline for making the KMTA fully
functional to perform its duties. First and foremost, the State
Government has to ensure that the KMTA is constituted as per Section
3 of the Act of 2019, having adequate representation of expert
members. Basic requirements, such as dedicated office space,
computers, and furniture, have to be made available on priority basis.
Adequate staff has to be provided. At least, adequate temporary
measures for the above should be put in place till a final arrangement is
ensured.
20. After it is so made functional, the KMTA will take up its
functions on priority basis. As per the Section 12 of the Act of 2019,
the Authority will have to plan and implement programmes for
investment, financing, construction and operation of urban transport
and ancillary services. It will develop and manage integrated and stand-
alone transport facilities, establish a command and control centre, and
issue standards, guidelines and performance indicators. The Authority
will have to regulate technical, performance and environmental norms,
administer the Urban Transport Fund, and set up systems for smart
ticketing, user information, traffic management and offence detection.
It will have to also collect and disseminate transport data, promote
consumer awareness, advance skills through training and research, and
make recommendations to the railways for improved services and
efficiency.
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21. Considering that the Authority has remained on paper for the
past five years despite its creation, we are not inclined to grant longer
time. The State has to give it priority in view of its lapses so far. Thus,
the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority should be made
functional by 1 November 2025 (the Kerala Day), at least with
adequate temporary measures for operationalisation of the Authority
for the above requirements, if final arrangement is in process by then.
22. Accordingly, the following directions are issued:
A) The Chief Executive Officer of Kochi Metropolitan
Transport Authority – KMTA will, submit a proposal
with full particulars as regards the infrastructural
requirement, including office space, movables, and
adequate staff members, both on permanent basis and
as ad hoc arrangement till a final arrangement is put
in place.
B) The Respondents – State and the Chief Executive
officer of KMTA will take all the steps necessary to
make the KMTA functional by 1 November 2025.
C) The KMTA and the State Government will take
necessary steps to constitute the Urban Transport
Fund in accordance with Section 18 of the Act of
2019, and upon its constitution, to transfer the
amount in terms of Section 18(2) of the Act of 2019.
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D) The KMTA, upon being made functional as above,
will initiate the process of preparation of a
Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Urban Mobility
Area as per Section 13 of the Act of 2019.
E) Upon it made functional, KMTA will take steps for
the following statutory functions:
i. Preparation of a Transport Investment Programme;
ii. Planning for finance mobilization, construction and
operation relating to urban transport and the Urban
Transport Ancillary Services;
iii. Development and management of integrated or
stand-alone transport network facilities to aid and
enhance the efficiency of urban transport for the user;
iv. Creation and management of a Common Command
and Control Centre for integration, co-ordination and
management of urban transport;
v. Development, issuance and publication of standards,
and guidelines relating to the development and
operation of urban transport facilities;
vi. Development and issuance of performance indicators
for urban transport services within the territorial
jurisdiction of the Authority;
vii. Development and enforcement of technical and
performance standards on all strategic and operational
matters that have a direct effect on the level of service
provided to the users of urban transport;
viii. Development of protocols to give directions to the
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authorities concerned to take necessary steps for the
regulation and enforcement of environmental
standards related or incidental to urban transport or
the Urban Transport Ancillary Services;
ix. Setting up and operation of an operation control
centre, a web-based user information system and a
helpline to provide integrated information to the users
of urban transport and to collect demands, complaints
and suggestions of passengers;
x. Setting up and operation of a smart card-based
ticketing system for payment of user charges for use of
the urban transport and Urban Transport Ancillary
Services in consultation with the authorities
concerned;
xi. Setting up and operation of technology-based
solutions for traffic management, transport planning,
design of transport systems and selection of mode of
transport in consultation with the authorities
concerned;
xii. Development of protocols for detection and reporting
of traffic offences to the authorities concerned and to
recommend action with the help of the Intelligent
Transport System to be established by the Authority;
xiii. Development of protocols for collection of
information on urban transportation within the
Urban Mobility Area and to provide the same to the
Government agencies concerned or other agencies
approved by the Authority;
xiv. Taking steps for publication and display of
information for the users of urban transport to
promote consumer awareness of the integrated urban
transport system;
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xv. Development of protocols for promoting skill
advancement of persons engaged in the operation
and maintenance of urban transport through
education, training and research.
xvii. Such other functions specified under the statute.
23. We place the responsibility on the Secretary of the Transport
Department of the State of Kerala to ensure that the State Government
makes the KMTA functional by 1 November 2025 to commences its
statutory functions.
24. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of.
Sd/-
NITIN JAMDAR,
CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/-
BASANT BALAJI,
JUDGE
Eb
W. P. (C) No. 10082 of 2025
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2025:KER:62247
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 10082/2025
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE CMO PETITION DATED
17.12.2023
Exhibit P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION DATED
17.12.2023 ISSUED TO PRIME MINISTER’S
OFFICE BY THE PETITIONERS
Exhibit P3 THE TRUE COPY OF THE DIRECTION ISSUED
BY 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 08.01.2024
Exhibit P4 THE TRUE COPY OF THE FOLLOW-UP PETITION
DATED 26.10.2024
Exhibit P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE DIRECTION ISSUED
BY 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 18.11.2024
Exhibit P6 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY LETTER
ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
01.02.2025
Exhibit P6(a) THE TRUE COPY OF THE ENGLISH
TRANSLATION OF EXHIBIT P6 LETTER IS
PRODUCED
Exhibit P7 THE TRUE COPY OF THE COMPUTER GENERATED
STATUS OF FILE NO E2/193/2024
DOWNLOADED IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY