Petrol and diesel prices have been on the rise, as also the bus fares of the TSRTC, causing a hole in the pockets of the commuters. With the metro rail services moving within the dense corridors of the twin cities, citizens, perhaps, can consider using the unheralded Multi Modal Transport Service (MMTS), the unique joint venture of the State government and SouthCentral Railway (SCR) for moving within the city plus in and out of the suburbs.
Although, the fate of the near complete Phase II, connecting places like Ghatkesar and others hang in balance, the phase I opened back in 2003 is up and running following the restoration of services from June last year after a gap of more than 15 months due to COVID pandemic.
The non-AC trains with free circulation of air have been seeing rising footfalls with about 70,000 passengers using the utility daily. Before, the pandemic hit the world, more than a lakh passengers used to travel with about 121 services. It continues to be one of the cheapest, safe and environment friendly mode of public transport system with 86 services restored connecting Hyderabad-Secunderabad-Lingampally-Falaknuma-Ramachandrapuram of the first phase 50 km.
Minimum fare continues to be ₹5 and maximum fare ₹ 15. Season ticket facility is also available for daily commuters of MMTS which is very less when compared to the other modes of transport. Covering 29 railway stations, connecting the south and eastern parts of the city to the fast growing western part, senior officials have claimed that MMTS timings have been scheduled to meet travel needs of different segment of passengers, giving importance to passenger traffic and destinations.
Services commence as early as 04.30 a.m. and continue till 00.30 at midnight. Tickets can be purchased at the booking counters, Automatic TicketVending Machines (ATVMs) and Unreserved TicketingSystem (UTS) mobile app. Senior railway officials also informed that suburban train services are now available between Secunderabad and Umdanagar, which is 6.5 km from Shamshabad and covering Medchal too with fares between ₹10-₹15.
SCR General Manager incharge Arun Kumar Jain appealed to the passengers to avail the MMTSfacilities as it is “best mode of transport to reach the destination safely in a cost effective manner”.
MMTS Trains are available between the following routes: 23services between Lingampalli – Falaknuma from 5.50 a.m. till 9.45p.m. with stops atChandanagar, Hafizpeta, Hitech City, Borabanda, Bharatnagar,Fatehnagar, Nature care hospital, Begumpet, Sanjeeviah park, Jamesstreet, Sitaphalmandi, Art college, Jamai Osmania, Vidyanagar,Kacheguda, Malakpet, Dabirpura, Yakutpura and Huppuguda stations,
30 services between Falaknuma-Lingampally from 4.45 a.m. till 10.35 p.m.and stops at Huppuguda,Yakutpura, Dabirpura, Malakpet, Kacheguda, Vidyanagar, Jamai Osmania,Art College, Sitafalmandi, James street, Sanjeeviah park, Begumpet,Nature care hospital, Fatehnagar, Bharatnagar, Borabanda, HitechCity, Hafizpeta, Chandanagar. Lingampalli-Hyderabad from 6.40 a.m.and 9.25 p.m,
16 services between Lingampally-Hyderabad starting from 6.40 a.m. till 9.25 p.m. and 18 services in the return direction of Hyderabad-Lingampally from 5.40 p.m. till 10.15 p.m. with stops at Chandanagar, Hafizpeta, Hitech City, Borabanda, Bharatnagar, Fatehnagar, Naturecare hospital, Begumpet, Necklace road, Khairtabad and Lakdikapul stations.
Direct services are available between Secunderabad-Hyderabad is at 5 a.m; Hyderabad-Lingampalli, Secunderabad-Lingampalli 6.45 a.m. and Lingampalli-Secunderabad MMTS services at 10.20 and 11.25 p.m .Falaknuma-Hyderabad MMTS services at 4.35 p.m and RC Puram-Falaknuma-RC Puram services one in morning 9.10 and another inevening 9.05 p.m.
Trains between Secunderabad-Umdanagar-Secunderabad will stop at Sitafalmandi, Arts College, Jamai Osmania, Vidyanagar, Kacheguda, Malakpet, Dabirpura, Yakutpura, Huppuguda, Falaknuma, NPA Shivarampalli and Budvel. Umdanagar-Medchal-Umdanagar stops are at Budvel, NPA Shivarampalli, Falaknuma, Huppuguda, Yakutpura, Dabirpura, Malakpet, Kacheguda, Vidyanagar, Jamai Osmania, Arts College, Sitafalmandi, Malkajgiri, Dayanand Nagar, Safilguda, Ramakistapuram Gate, Ammuguda, Cavalry Barracks, Alwal, Bolarum Bazar, Bolarum, Gundla Pochampalli and Gowdavalli. Medchal-Secunderabad-Medchal trains will stop at Gowdavalli, Gundla Pochampalli, Bolarum, Bolarum Bazar, Alwal, Cavalry Barracks, Ammuguda, Ramakistapuram Gate, Safilguda, Dayanand Nagar and Malkajgiri. With timings from 6.15 a.m. onwards to 9.15 p.m.
