About 5.44 crore riders moved on the Multi-Modal Transport Services (MMTS) trains last year or about 1.6 lakh passengers a day. While everyone is talking about phase II works, the first phase which connected Secunderabad-Nampally-Falaknuma-Lingampally moved into a momentous 15th year.
In the last 14 years, there are many grateful about the capital’s first big public transport - first ever collaboration between the Indian Railways and a State government joining hands for a suburban rail project - and an equal number wishing for incremental changes in the operations to make their journeys stress-free and joyful.
About 121 trains of nine coaches each run on the Secunderabad-Hyderabad-Lingampalli (28 km) and Secunderabad-Falaknuma (15 km) routes everyday. Frequency of the trains continues to be an issue with the railways stating that the current infrastructure does not permit either to increase the frequency or to operate more trains and assure better services once phase II is completed.
“Problem is mostly in the morning peak hours because of arrival of trains and a ladies special, which means between 8.20 a.m. and 9.40 a.m. there are no trains. Otherwise, frequency is once every half hour or more depending on other train traffic. We need dedicated tracks for MMTS,” says K. Vijayaraghavan, an IT professional and active member of the Travellers Group.
Other issues continue to dog the project despite increasing patronage over the years. From 7,000 riders a day initially, the number has been increasing to the current capacity with 5 crore riders annually in the last few years netting South Central Railway (SCR) up to ₹30 crore operating revenue. “Critics were many for this project and it was said citizens would never patronage this service but look how it has become a vital transport system. It has a potential to move more than 5 lakh riders if stakeholders can bring about key changes,”says Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy and former MMTS Project Director.
Feeder services were provided by RTC for some time along with an integrated common pass but rather than fine tuning the system when pinpricks arose, the whole support service had collapsed with no common ticket or a reliable feeder service other than autos at stations.
“We have been urging the government to work with SCR and RTC to ensure feeder services at all MMTS stations to provide the last mile connectivity,” says Kalyan, another Travellers Group member. While co-owners SCR and government have ignored the anniversary, it is this Group which celebrated the day with cutting of a cake inside an MMTS train in the presence of key railway officers on Wednesday.
Among the issues brought to the notice of the officials was to provide reservation for senior citizens in first class, ladies and disabled cars and reduce parking fees as the monthly charge is ₹700 and ₹40 for two hours for a bike.
Regular riders have also called for frequent announcements about the MMTS train movements in stations other than the terminal stations of Secunderabad/Lingampally, etc., and adequate display on the electronic information boards.