Hyderabad MMTS Cancellations Leave Commuters Struggling
HYDERABAD: Frequent cancellations of Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) services are causing inconvenience to commuters across the city, with passengers questioning why services are being reduced instead of expanded amid the Centre’s push for greater use of public transport.
South Central Railway has attributed the cancellations to track maintenance works, infrastructure upgrades and other operational requirements. However, commuters say the repeated suspension of services over the past month has disrupted daily travel and increased transportation costs.
Commuters bear rising travel costs
MMTS remains the city’s most affordable public transport service, offering travel of up to 40 km with fares ranging from ₹5 to ₹15. Passengers say frequent cancellations are forcing them to use private vehicles and app-based cabs, increasing their daily expenses.
Government and private-sector employees, along with students who depend on the low-cost rail network, have been among the worst affected. In several instances, services were reportedly cancelled at short notice, leaving commuters scrambling for alternatives. With the monsoon season under way, many passengers said road travel has become increasingly difficult.
Ridership yet to recover after Covid
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, MMTS operated 121 services daily on routes including Secunderabad-Lingampalli, Falaknuma-Secunderabad, Lingampalli-Falaknuma and Nampally-Lingampalli. The network carried around 1.5 lakh passengers every day.
Services were suspended for nearly a year during the pandemic. Operations resumed with 25 services and were later increased in phases to 86. At present, only about 50,000 passengers use the network daily.
Passenger associations pointed out that current ridership is only around 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and argued that frequent cancellations would further discourage commuters from choosing public transport.
Recent service cancellations
June 10-12: Four key MMTS services on routes including Falaknuma-Ramachandrapuram and Ghatkesar-Ramachandrapuram were partially cancelled.
May 23-June 1: Commuters faced major disruption, with 28 MMTS services cancelled daily. On May 21 and May 31, 40 services were cancelled.
May 11-12: Eleven MMTS services on the Umdanagar, Lingampalli, Falaknuma and Secunderabad routes were fully or partially cancelled.
