In good news for those commuting to Hyderabad's IT Sector, the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) said that the average train frequency on the busy route from Nagole to Hitec City will now be increased to 4 minutes during peak hours. It was previously about 7 to 15 minutes.
This came after the much-awaited reversal facility at Hitec City station was commissioned on Tuesday, "enabling the twin single-line system to be replaced by normal train working system between Hitec City and Jubilee Hills Check post metro stations," the HMRL said in a press release.
The lack of a 'reversal' facility had forced trains to run on the same side while entering and exiting the Hitec City metro station, but with a facility being constructed near Trident hotel, the trains can now move ahead, reverse, and switch to the adjacent platform while returning back.
“We will run trains with this frequency for about two or three weeks. After the operations stabilise, the frequency will further be increased to 3 minutes thereafter, if required,” HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy was quoted as saying.
Eight stations in a 10-km stretch under phase 3 of the Hyderabad Metro project were thrown open earlier this year. This included Taruni-Madhura Nagar, Yousufguda, Jubilee Hills Road No 5, Jubilee Hills Check-post, Peddamma temple, Madhapur, Durgam Cheruvu and Hitec City. This 28-km blue line extends from Nagole to Raidurgam. The Raidurgam station is still under construction.
The Hyderabad metro is currently operational along the entire stretch of Corridor 1 as well, between Miyapur-LB Nagar with 27 stations. Corridor 2 of the project between Jubilee Bus Station to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) with 16 stations, is expected to be thrown open to the public soon.
Touted to be the largest metro in the world under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, the entire project is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early next year. The HMRL is drawing plans to extend the project to Shamshabad to provide metro service to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).