Hyderabad: Post unlock phase announced by the government allowing Metro services to resume across the country since September 7, Hyderabad Metro continues to lead in terms of patronage and stands next only to Delhi Metro. While Delhi Metro is way ahead in recording 14 lakh passenger trips a day, Hyderabad Metro is registering average 1.17 lakh passenger trips a day. Other Metros like Bengaluru (50,000 passenger trips a day) and Chennai (20,000 passenger trips a day) have a long way to catch up with Hyderabad.
“Since September 7, we have been constantly watching the patronage patterns across the country. Hyderabad Metro is next only to Delhi Metro,” said HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy. The patronage is steadily picking up from 80,000 passenger trips a day. Among the three corridors, Corridor I (LB Nagar–Miyapur) is recording 65 per cent patronage, Corridor II (Nagole–Raidurg) is registering 35 per cent and Corridor III is five per cent, he said.
During lockdown the entire system was checked and maintained regularly. As a result, there are no disruptions even during the heavy rains early this week. In fact Metro proved to be a reliable transport mode on Tuesday and Wednesday when the city was lashed by heavy rains, he said.
Currently, 800 trips are being operated daily on the three corridors and depending on the demand the trips will be increased in the days to come. This apart to avoid crowding at stations and in trains, short loop services from LB Nagar to Ameerpet and from Miyapur to MGBS were being operated. This again, will be increased as per the demand, he informed.
The services are being operated from 7 am to 9 pm with a frequency raging from three to four minutes on different corridors. Metro officials are exploring possibilities to extend the services beyond 9 pm for the convenience of passengers.
Rs 900 crore loss
LTMRHL CEO and Managing Director KVB Reddy said the LT Metro Hyderabad had suffered nearly Rs 900 crore loss during the first half of the current financial year. “We are apprising the government about the situation,” he said.
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