Commuters have been urging SCR to increase the frequency of MMTS during peak hours, apart from early morning services, to ensure connectivity to long-distance express trains. File | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
With the South Central Railway (SCR) restoring MMTS suburban trains to near-scheduled timings during peak hours on certain routes in recent months, passengers are now urging the authorities to take another step to expand services and regain the system’s former glory.
Commuters are looking for more services on key routes. Passenger associations are demanding additional trains on the Secunderabad/Umdanagar-Medchal section to facilitate daily travel and improve connectivity with long-distance trains. “We need early morning services from Medchal to Falaknuma and back to help passengers catch Vande Bharat Express and Bolarum-Umdanagar services for easy connection to Tungabhadra Express and AP Sampark Kranti Express,” says Murali, a frequent commuter.
He adds that the introduction of Medchal-Lingampalli and Bolarum-Hyderabad services would benefit employees and business passengers, while the Medchal-Falaknuma train would serve commuters from South Hyderabad.
Commuters are also proposing new routes like Medchal-Cherlapalli via RK Nagar, Secunderabad-Cherlapalli via Malkajgiri and RC Puram-Cherlapalli via Neredmet with morning, afternoon and evening connectivity options of the new terminal. There is consensus to increase connectivity from Cherlapalli to Hyderabad, Umdanagar, RC Puram/Lingampalli (via Neredmet and Suchitra) and add off-peak services to Lingampalli and Medchal.
Frequency and infrastructure updates
Another commuter G. Rakesh suggests reducing intervals to 15-20 minutes during peak hours, extending Lingampalli services to RC Puram and Patancheru in the evening and adding more trains to Ghatkesar via Cherlapalli. It also recommends exploring the new platform at Tellapur towards the radial road near the ORR Kollur exit.
“MMTS timetables and fares should be displayed prominently at major stations with frequent announcements,” says Bharadwaj, a member of the Railway Users’ Committee. It advocates merging the first class and ladies sections, conducting daily checks and issuing fines to passengers without tickets. Mr. Bharadwaj also suggests allowing long-distance passengers free MMTS travel for 90 minutes after arrival and creating a dedicated platform at Secunderabad for smoother boarding with trains stopping in the middle and not at the edge.
New stops and plans for the future
President of the Train Travelers Association Noor Ahmed Ali revealed that three new MMTS stations – Loyola College, Anandbagh and Prashanthnagar near Moula Ali districts – are expected to be opened soon. “We hope that SCR management will continue to proactively improve facilities, add stops for express trains and ensure safe, punctual and comfortable travel,” he says.
(Do you have any suggestions to improve MMTS services? Send your responses to hyderabaddesk@thehindu.co.in or you can use our X@THHyderabad)
Published – 27 Dec 2025 18:55 IST
