Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru) have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct joint research on sustainable urban mobility. The agreement is intended to harness academic expertise and operational experience to address growing urban transport challenges. The partnership will focus on producing evidence based solutions that can inform planning and operations across metropolitan contexts.

Areas of collaboration will include integrated network planning, data driven operations and analytics, energy efficiency and the adoption of low emission technologies for metro and feeder services. Research will also explore last mile connectivity, non motorised transport integration and transit oriented development to improve accessibility and reduce congestion. The institutions will aim to develop models and tools that support decision making by city authorities and operators.

The memorandum provides a framework for joint projects, pilot demonstrations and the sharing of anonymised operational data subject to safeguards, alongside opportunities for capacity building through training programmes and doctoral and postdoctoral research. Faculty and technical teams from both organisations are expected to collaborate on modelling, simulation and field studies that link laboratory research to real world operations. The partnership is likely to include periodic reviews to align outputs with evolving urban mobility needs.

Officials said the collaboration is intended to generate scalable solutions that enhance service quality, improve energy performance and strengthen resilience to climate related disruptions. The research outputs are expected to inform procurement specifications, network optimisation and policy instruments that prioritise sustainable and inclusive transport outcomes. The partnership is presented as a step towards bridging the gap between academic research and urban transport practice. Stakeholders will monitor progress closely.