Public transport systems in Kochi experienced a significant decline in passenger numbers on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as the nationwide Bharat Bandh called by trade unions affected daily life across the city. While most services continued to operate, footfall on major transit networks such as the Kochi Metro, suburban rail services and the Kochi Water Metro dropped markedly, reflecting the impact of the general strike on commuters.
According to transport officials, the Kochi Metro rail service, which normally ferries tens of thousands of commuters daily, saw ridership fall by nearly 50 % compared with a regular weekday. Trains ran on schedule from early morning until late evening, but empty platforms and fewer passengers were noticeable across major stations.
Similarly, the Water Metro’s ferry services — an integrated part of Kochi’s urban mobility network connecting island communities and mainland Ernakulam — recorded a roughly 20 % drop in passenger numbers on bandh day. Although services remained available, many regular users chose to stay home or avoid travel due to the strike conditions and reduced feeder transport links.
The metro feeder buses that connect key transit hubs such as Aluva Metro Station with Cochin International Airport and Kalamassery to Medical College were also affected, operating on limited routes and seeing far fewer commuters than usual.
Officials noted that while essential transit operations were maintained to minimise inconvenience, the sharp decline in ridership highlighted how public sentiment and transport disruption during the Bharat Bandh influenced travel behaviour in Kochi. Many office workers shifted to remote or hybrid work arrangements, further contributing to lower passenger numbers across all modes of public transport on the strike day.
Overall, the bandh underlined the interconnected nature of urban transit systems — where even when services run, travel demand can plunge significantly due to broader social and political actions affecting commuter choices.
News as reported
