Hyderabadis return to metro rail in large numbers, demand better frequency

Hyderabadis  have once again started patronising metro rail in great numbers, so much so that footfalls are gradually nearing pre-COVID-19 days. These days, around three lakh passengers are using the metro on a daily basis. Before the pandemic wreaked havoc, the trains were being used by nearly 4 lakh passengers on a daily basis. While the increase in footfall is great news for the Hyderabad Metro Rail, it has brought along with it the demand by passengers to increase the frequency of the metro service to manage the crowd better.

Ever since offices have started calling back employees, the footfall in the Hyderabad Metro Rail has substantially gone up leading to a demand for increasing the frequency of trains. Speaking to TNM, a spokesperson from L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited “With the outbreak of COVID-19, metro services were suspended for 169 days from March 22 till September 6, 2020. After the unlock, the metro resumed its services from September 7, 2020 in phases with all COVID-19 safety protocols. We have continued to serve the city with truncated operations even during the second and third waves of COVID, including the state-wide night curfews and lock-downs.”

As more and more offices have begun to recall their employees to work in the office, passenger ridership has been very high during office hours. “Currently, Hyderabad Metro Rail is recovering steadily and in the last few months, we are witnessing about 3 lakh passengers daily. The passenger ridership is high during office hours both in the morning and evening,” added the spokesperson.

According to L&T officials, crowding during peak office hours is common across almost all mass transit systems globally. To address this issue, based on real-time analytics L&T has started short loop trains which provide services at a faster frequency at high crowd interchange stations. During the



usual peak hours, a frequency of 4 minutes 30 seconds is maintained and during the non-peak hour frequency is kept at 7 minutes.

Interestingly, officials reveal that if the daily average occupancy is considered the footfall, it is still less than 50% of the capacity of the trains. “We have also increased the maximum operating speed of trains from 70 kmph to 80 kmph, which has resulted in saving significant time between corridor terminals,” shared the L&T spokesperson.

In the backdrop of increased footfall, several citizens in Hyderabad have been taking to Twitter to voice concerns about how overcrowded the Hyderabad metro is especially in peak hours. Srinivas, a metro commuter, uses the facility to travel to different parts of the city especially during weekdays. Speaking to TNM he said, “The morning hours on the red line and the blue line are overcrowded. Ameerpet is a nightmare. It gives me a cattle class feeling whenever I board the metro from Ameerpet to Hitech City. Around a year ago, the Hyderabad Metro MD had mentioned about increasing coaches, however, it seems like he isn’t too keen about it now.

Just a rant video & pics of #Hyderabad Metro Rail during peak hours. Can someone plz do something about this. It gets really horrible inside the train. We just need to add more coaches during peak hours. Timings are fine. @hmrgov @ltmhyd pic.twitter.com/OpdlO0SKEw

— Krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) May 18, 2022