8-Minute Metro Wait Irks Raidurg Commuters

Hyderabad:Commuters at the busy Raidurg Metro station were left waiting for eight minutes for the next train during evening peak hours on Monday, twice the usual four-minute frequency on the Blue Line.

At around 7.20 pm, the passenger information display at Raidurg showed an eight-minute wait for the next train towards Nagole. The delay came during the evening rush hour, when large numbers of employees from the IT corridor use the Metro.

Commuters complained that longer intervals compounded the problem of overcrowding in the three-coach trains.

“During evening peak hours, Raidurg Metro station is extremely crowded. The three-coach trains are packed and suffocating. On top of this, the longer wait between trains makes the journey more difficult,” said Renna Dutt, an IT professional.

Peak-hour overcrowding and the limited capacity of three-coach trains have been among the recurring complaints of Hyderabad Metro commuters, particularly on the busy Blue Line.

Metro peak hours are from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm. Trains on the Red Line between Miyapur and LB Nagar and the Blue Line between Nagole and Raidurg generally operate at intervals of around four minutes during peak hours, while the Green Line between JBS Parade Ground and MGBS has a frequency of around 12 minutes.

The Hyderabad Metro network operates a fleet of 57 trains.

When contacted, Metro Rail authorities said they would obtain details from the operations wing and respond. Their response was awaited at the time of filing.