Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro Rail officials are planning to offer “free Metro rides” to people in the city.
Nearly 1,000 people would be given a chance to travel by Metro rail between Nagole and Mettuguda, free of cost, as a part of the “Operation Readiness Test” to check the preparedness of the Metro rail and stations in dealing with passenger rush. These tests are planned for one week.
Passengers will be selected from schools, colleges, IT firms etc. by conducting various contests and programmes. Officials expect to derive dual benefits out of this initiative by popularising the Metro Rail as well as give a first-hand experience and feel of a world-class commuting service free of cost.
As of now, empty Metro trains are being run on this route as part of trial runs. To test the capacity of Metro Rails and strength of pillars, sand-bags are being carried in the trains.
“A thousand passengers will be given a chance to ride the Metro for free. They will be distributed among the seven Metro stations between Nagole and Mettuguda. Seven trains will be run as part of ORT tests, and passengers will be allowed to board and alight from these trains. This will allow us to assess the situation in Metro trains and stations while dealing with passenger rush and rectify faults, if any,” said a Metro official.
He said after the successful completion of these tests, they will apply for railway safety tests. Project builder Larsen and Toubro, which has already appointed brand ambassadors from different sections of society by holding competitions, would utilise their services to hold events in schools, colleges, IT firms among others to select 1,000 passengers for the free rides.
