Hyderabad: Hyderabadis have taken to the Metro train as fish to water. The travel time on normally congested and busy corridors has come down by three-fourth bringing cheer to the citizens. There was a marked improvement in the flow of road traffic.
Like the first day, there was a massive rush of passengers on Day 2 on Thursday at all the stations with people making a beeline to get a taste of the ultra modern elevated Metro train.
A record of sorts was created on Day 1 as more than 200,000 people travelled on 30-km long Miyapur-Kukatpally stretch with people lining up right from the wee hours bracing the morning chill to enjoy the Metro ride.
“Delighted that Hyderabadis have welcomed Hyderabad Metro in big way,” said the Telangana Urban Development and IT minister K Taraka Rama Rao who first put the number of passengers on the first day at 100,000 but later corrected it to double it.
“I am told while day 1 of Hyd Metro broke all records, on day 2 also we are noticing a surge”, he tweeted and directed the city police and government and HMR (Hyderabad Metro Rail) officials to stay on high alert and manage the crowd.
“Appeal to fellow Hyderabadis to be considerate to kids, elderly and other passengers. It is our Metro, our pride,” he tweeted.
Jubilation
There was an air of jubilation at Miyapur station as the passengers coming from long distances cheered. “The journey, which used to take at least one hour and lot of difficulties, was today over in just 15 minutes. It is incredible”, said M. Santosh, a private company employee.
For Jyotsna, a graduation student and her friend, it was a historic moment. “Today our city has become a world class city. I am feeling so proud,” said the girl, who travelled from Mettuguda to Ameerpet.
Ordinary people went out of the way to make the day with memorable some queuing up at Miyapur at 4am to take the first train out at 6am.
A couple — both working professionals — boarded the train just to give the “first day first show” experience to their 3 months old infant. Srikant and Pavani with their baby boarded the train at Habsiguda, close to their home to come to Ameerpet just to enjoy the moment. “It was dream come to true for us”, said Pavani who had to stand in the crowded coach.
Teething toubles
Though the project faced many teething problems such as the failure of ticket vending machines and a lack of space for parking outside many stations or lack of awareness among the masses where to change from one route to the other, and jamming of doors and escalators at some places — nothing could dampen the spirits of the people who came out in large numbers to be part of a historic experience.
Metro operated seven trains each on Corridor I from Miyapur to Ameerpet and on Corridor II form Ameerpet to Nagole. “Keeping in view of the massive rush and enthusiastic response we many consider increasing the number of trains”, said a beaming NVS Reddy, the managing director of HMR.
In view of the rush of passengers, the officials of the state government as well as the L & T Metro Rail company were out in full force at each of the 24 stations to guide the people and also attend on the technical glitches.
At some places officials faced curious problems of some passengers trying to travel in both the directions on the same ticket which was rejected by the automatic machines. “As it was the first day, we took a lenient view but such things will not be allowed now onwards,” Reddy said.
Reddy also travelled from Ameerpet to Miyapur and interacted with the passengers to get their feedback and suggestions on how to further improve the service.
Authorities were keeping a close watch through a network of CCTV cameras, which were monitored both at the stations as well as the command centre at Uppal.
There was one train every 8 minutes on Miyapur-Ameerpet corridor and one train every 15 minutes on the longer corridor of Ameerpet to Nagole.
