Hyderabad: Techies, who are regular passengers of Multi-Modal Transportation System (MMTS) trains, are expecting Metro Rail to impact MMTS. This is because Metro Rail from Secunderabad to Miyapur runs parallel to Secunderabad-Hitech City railway stations.
A number of techies who are first-class passengers on the MMTS are interested in the Metro services.
Y. Kalyani Rao, a techie from Jamia Osmania, said that since the announcement of the Metro services by the government, techies have been discussing on WhatsApp about shifting from MMTS to Metro.
“At present, a majority of regular MMTS passengers do not reside near railway stations. They have to use other transport to reach the MMTS stations from their residences. But Metro stations are located on the main corridors. This could be one of the reasons for the shift,” she said. There is a talk that passengers are hesitant to shift to Metro as they would have to pay higher fares However, Ms Rao says, “A majority of techies travelling by first-class in MMTS say that the Metro Rail is going to be cheaper.”
K. Lalita Gayatri, an employee of IDBI Bank who travels from Seethaphalmandi MMTS station to Hitech city said that she resides at Lalapet and uses cabs or auto-rickshaws to reach the Seethaphalmandi station.
“The Tarnaka Metro station is closer than Seethaphalmandi station. I can reach the Metro station by foot. Most of the techies think this way, as all are not staying near MMTS stations. Besides this, a few MMTS stations look deserted and lonely at night and even the streets look empty, which doesn’t give a secure feeling to women passengers. The majority of women techies feel that Metro Rail stations would be a better bet.”
J. Jaya Krishna, a software professional from Habsiguda, expressed a similar opinion. “I am a regular passenger of the MMTS and I park my bike at Jamia-Osmania station and use MMTS transport to reach Hitech City. But Habsiguda Metro Station is close for me and I can go there walking. My co-passengers on the MMTS are also planning to shift to the Metro,” he said.
But officials from the South Central Railway say that there will be no impact on regular MMTS services after the commencement of Metro Rail. M. Uma Shanker Kumar, chief public relations officer of SCR, said, “There will not be even 1 per cent impact on MMTS services as the charges are very low, with a fare of '5 from Secunderabad to Hitech City. If at all the corridors of Metro Rail commence, there may be partial impact on MMTS,” he did admit.
