hyderabad metro rail

That’s how the Hyderabadis who travelled by Metro on November 29 described their experience, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the city’s most prestigious mass transport system. That was the TOI’s title to a vox pop report, punning on ‘love at first sight.’
The Metro coaches moving majestically on a 30-km stretch has given a new look to Hyderabad’s skyline. And, people are lapping up the thrill of seeing their beloved city from above! For a majority of people, it’s totally a new experience – clean and silent travel – zipping past the traffic chaos below.
There are, of course, teething troubles which are expected and natural for any mega project of the size of Hyderabad Metro. But most of these are related to passengers’ behaviour and over a period of time, authorities are hoping to overcome these as commuters get used to ultra-modern travel.

Now, it is a novelty and ordinary people without having any need to travel are hopping in for a ‘feel’ of it, and to take selfies and share them with friends and relatives. But, hopefully, in the coming days, as the rush starts building up, they don’t throw caution to the wind and try to take selfies which can prove fatal.

Nevertheless, it’s a dream come true after decades of dilly-dallying and delays in approving and building the massive project which is touted to be a panacea for all the city’s traffic woes. Even after completion of the other two corridors of Metro, which mostly covers almost all the busiest areas bursting at seams with people and vehicles, by December end next year, it is doubtful whether Metro could lessen the traffic chaos.

Two issues can play spoilsport to Hyderabadis’ Metro dream. One is fare and the other is feeder services or connectivity. Barely three days after its opening, are the ground realities surfacing. In fact, many times, people and experts have pointed out the twin problems to the state government and project authorities.

Most of the ‘first day first’ commuters and second and third day travellers felt that the fares are too high compared to other Metro cities. Though their travel time has halved, they are made to pay for saving the commute time! With an estimated seven to eight years for Metro to break even, it is anybody’s guess whether the authorities would cut the fares.

The economics of scale both for Metro users and its concessionaires are the same. Before opting for Metro as an alternative to bus or MMTS or personal transport, the daily commuter will take into account the time that takes from home to office and back and the money spent/ saved. If the fares remain too high, he/she will simply shun the Metro

The bigger problem for many who don’t mind paying a little extra for avoiding sound and air pollution on the road and to save environment, is reaching the nearest Metro station. In the near-absence of feeder services, commuters have to reach their point of boarding by own vehicles and park them within the walking distance. There are not enough parking places at the 24 stations that are open now. In fact, 16 of the stations don’t have any parking facility. Obviously, none can park a bike or cars anywhere near a Metro station as the areas will always be crammed.

Worse, on Thursday, traffic police either towed away or fined many vehicles for parking near the Metro stations, prompting a wag to ruefully say, “Another means to collect more traffic fines.” However, the police officials have another take on the action. This is to discourage people from using their own transport (to reach Metro). They have to take an auto or a bus! Maybe, sound reasoning; but these are out of reach for those living in far off places from the core city zones.

While Metro is hailed as putting Hyderabad on fast track, it should not become a showpiece. It will, if the twin problems are not resolved as early as possible.