Hyderabad metro fare hike likely amid increasing operational costs
Hyderabad: If you are dependent on the metro to avoid rush hour traffic, then get ready to shell out more for metro travel as the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRHL) will likely hike fares across all categories and routes to meet its increasing operating costs.
The daily ridership touched an all-time high of 5.47 lakh passengers on 23 September 2023 and since then the average metro ridership is nearly 5 lakh daily on all its three routes across the city.
Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities have hinted that revision of fares is on the cards due to mounting financial losses since the metro service was launched in 2017.
Over the years, the financial losses have exceeded Rs. 6,500 crore and to ensure the project’s sustainability and prevent it from becoming a non-performing asset, certain measures need to be taken, according to an L&TMRHL’s statement.
Continuing with the metro train fare fixed in 2017, Hyderabad metro charges Rs. 10 for up to 2 km and Rs. 60 for above 26 km travel and the rates have not been revised despite significant inflationary pressures. Recently, Bengaluru metro has hiked the fares by 44 per cent and the maximum fare was increased to Rs. 90 for any travel beyond 25 km.
Amid the growing commuter demand, the metro rail authorities extended the timings of the train at Terminals from 11 pm to 11.45 pm effective from April 1, 2025. The announcement displayed at Hyderabad metro stations mentioned that the revised timings will be applicable from Monday to Friday (weekdays) only.
