The Hyderabad Metro Rail has witnessed a significant surge in ridership over the past few days, as continuous rainfall has led citizens to prefer the metro over other forms of transportation. The heavy rains, which have been lashing the city since last Saturday, have caused severe traffic jams on the roads, prompting many to seek the safety and reliability of the metro system.
Faced with the prospect of getting drenched in rain, waiting at traffic signals, and navigating waterlogged roads, a large number of Hyderabadis have opted to travel by metro rail. This shift was particularly noticeable during the heavy downpours on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, when a majority of citizens chose the metro to reach their destinations, leading to overcrowding at central metro stations and on the trains.
On Saturday alone, more than 5 lakh commuters used the metro, a figure that remained high even on Sunday and Monday, despite both days being holidays. This is in stark contrast to a typical rainy day last month when only 5.5 lakh people traveled by metro.
To accommodate the increased demand, metro authorities have been running trains every five minutes, with 56 trains making over 1,000 trips daily. However, the surge in ridership has also led to congestion, particularly at central stations, prompting complaints from passengers about the lack of additional coaches during peak hours, festivals, and the rainy season.
There have been calls from the public to increase the frequency of metro trains to every three minutes, especially during such high-demand periods. However, metro officials have cited technical limitations as the reason for not being able to meet this demand.
The situation highlights the growing reliance on the metro system as a critical part of Hyderabad’s transportation network, particularly during adverse weather conditions. As the city continues to grapple with the challenges posed by heavy rains, the need for enhanced metro services, including increased frequency and additional coaches, has become more apparent.
Metro authorities are expected to review the situation and consider potential solutions to address the rising demand, ensuring that Hyderabad’s metro system can continue to provide a safe, reliable, and efficient mode of transportation for its citizens.
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