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Hyderabad Metro train commuters say their problems have increased ever since the state government announced that it would take over Metro Rail operations from L&T. This announcement came ahead of the expected handover of services in March next year. Since then, passengers have complained that the quality of Metro services
has gone down.
Commuters' Opinions
Many commuters complain that trains are now running less frequently, leading to longer waiting times at stations. Because of this, several people have started using other forms of transport. Passengers are also unhappy that their long-standing demand for trains with more than three coaches has still not been met, especially during busy hours.
Praveen Daram, who works at an MNC in Raheja Mindspace, said that the train frequency between 6 am and 7 am has reduced to once every 10 to 12 minutes. He travels daily from Uppal to Raidurg and feels that Metro services have worsened after the takeover announcement. According to him, many commuters are now choosing other travel options despite waiting at stations for longer periods.
Another issue raised by passengers is the change in service timings. Earlier, the last Metro train used to run at 11.45 pm, but since November 3, it has been rescheduled to 11 pm. Veronica Racheal, a nursing officer working in Sangareddy, said the earlier timing was helpful for people returning late at night. She added that the reduced timings have caused inconvenience and should be restored.
Metro officials stated late-night passenger numbers are low, and the decision was taken to reduce costs. However, road safety expert Ramanjeet Singh criticised this move, saying Metro services should be expanded, not cut.
Commuters have also reported overcrowding during peak hours. It is estimated that daily Metro ridership has fallen from over 5.5 lakh passengers to about 4 lakh. While the takeover process is still underway, authorities say train frequency is adjusted based on demand.
