Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail is experiencing its sharpest fall in patronage since its opening, with average daily ridership dropping from a record 5.63 lakh in 2023 to “a little under 4.5 lakh” this month, officials confirmed on Monday.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said footfall had been down by roughly 50,000 passengers a day since January. “We are analysing multiple factors — first- and last-mile connectivity, peak-hour crowding in our three-coach trains, and competition from other modes,” the official noted.
Commuters cited overcrowding as a prime deterrent. Despite air-conditioned coaches, peak-hour travel often means “shoulder-to-shoulder” standing, with some riders requesting that Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) add coaches or lower fares during off-peak slots. Current fares range from ₹10 to ₹60.
Transport analysts also point to the state government’s Maha Lakshmi scheme — free TGSRTC bus travel for women launched on December 9, 2023, — as a possible factor. TGSRTC data showed daily bus ridership averaging about 58 lakh with load factors nearing 100 per cent.
HMRL said it would publish a detailed ridership review next month and consider service tweaks — including potential off-peak fare discounts and additional feeder services — to regain passengers ahead of the monsoon.
