Anyone who has travelled widely will acknowledge that, apart from being a top global tourism destination, Kochi is one of the most liveable cities in Asia. It is just the right size to offer all the facilities and benefits of a modern metropolis without the daunting challenges that mega-cities face. Most importantly — and this factor is often overlooked — it has little of the distressing inequality or the stark contrasts of wealth and poverty that characterise many other metropolises.Kochi stands out, as does the rest of Kerala, because nearly everyone has reasonable access to basic livelihoods as well as to public healthcare, the judicial system, and education.However, much remains to be done to improve the quality of life and ease of living for city dwellers. Apart from basic necessities such as potable water and sanitation, a well-functioning public transportation system is crucial to making Kochi a truly modern and liveable city. The benefits of efficient transport flow into nearly every aspect of life — improving economic prospects, healthcare outcomes, and public safety, especially for women, saving time, attracting investment, and promoting greater equality of opportunity.
A Kochi Metro train leaves its station at Vyttila Mobility Hub (file)
